Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. At first I was glad when I learned the government would be combining education, culture and employment, as I thought this would mean the educational system could be structured to better meet the cultural needs of the people in the smaller communities. I was also glad when the Honourable Richard Nerysoo became the Minister because I know he understands the difficulties we face when we are trying to ensure the survival of the aboriginal culture. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I talked about the problems which many Dene families face when they have to go into the bush. For a long time I have thought it would be helpful to have a place where their children can stay and continue to attend school. Is the Minister willing

to explore the possibility of funding the development of hostels or cultural survival centres where this could take place?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Any ideas which would improve the ability of the government to deliver good programs to the people of the north is welcome. We may consider those issues, but again I ask the honourable Member to recognize the potential financial restraints we might encounter in responding to the needs of his particular constituents and the people of the Northwest Territories.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, thank you. I do not support money being taken away from student residences which allow children to attend secondary schools in Fort Simpson. Mr. Speaker, I am talking about putting the mandate for the cultural survival together with the mandate for education, and creating a new kind of facility which allows families to follow their traditional activities. Will the Minister agree to support this concept in principle?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not think that any Member of this Cabinet disagrees with the principle the honourable Member has raised. I ask the honourable Member to work with the divisional board of education and myself to see how we may be able to incorporate the principle the honourable Member is raising. I think it is an important principle which could be dealt with throughout the Northwest Territories. It should be dealt with in conjunction with the strategy we are developing in terms of our future view and direction we wish to take with regard to education and amending the Education Act. When we get to that particular point, as well as laying out the plans for education in the regions, I think it will be helpful when we deal with those particular issues and will greatly improve the ability of this government to deliver programs which are culturally relevant and recognize the cultures and languages which we are responsible for.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister knows many families are going to leave the community so they can carry out their traditional hunting and trapping activities. Can the Minister confirm if his department has found this to be one

of the factors which contribute to children dropping out of school or falling behind in their studies?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would assume that is one of the contributing factors, along with many others, to this particular concern.

Item 5, oral questions. Your final supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I have raised this issue many times and in the Minister's response to my request he referred to the divisional board of education being responsible. Mr. Speaker, this is a matter of Dene cultural survival and making sure there is acceptable care for our younger children. It is a cultural issue which should be decided in culturally appropriate ways. It should be the elders and the people of the communities who are deciding these things, not some European-style board which was set up by bureaucrats in Yellowknife. Can the Minister explain why his department is to eager to pass the buck so the decisions are made by boards which are modelled on non-native educational systems?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, It is not the intention of the department, myself or this government to dictate the direction that each board wishes to take. I appreciate the concern which the honourable Member has raised and I have already indicated to the honourable Member that I will be meeting with the Deh Cho divisional board along with Mr. Antoine. I have indicated a number of issues which Mr. Antoine has raised and I will try to address those particular matters. It is my intention to continue to encourage the regions to develop their responsibility for the education of their children, including the need to develop culturally relevant programs. I think it is necessary and this government is not opposing those particular principles. In fact, if anything, I think our history will show that we have tried to encourage the development of programming in those areas. That is my position. The honourable Member knows my beliefs in the matter of protecting and enhancing the development of language and culture, and that is the view which I take into this particular portfolio.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister of Social Services is aware of the Katujjijiit Corporation's proposal for the personal care facility in Iqaluit. It features quality, dignified care, a daily program and diet, and a culturally relevant program run by trained Inuit who are employed by a northern company. Does this represent the ideal kind of care for our elders, in a personal care facility run by this government? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson, are you asking the opinion of the Minister? Could you, perhaps, rephrase your question, Mr. Patterson?

Mr. Speaker, is it the policy of the Department of Social Services that this kind of culturally relevant quality program should be sought after in personal care facilities for elders run by the department?

Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not only the department's policy to hire aboriginals, it is a most essential policy, when we are delivering these kinds of programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to hear the Minister's endorsement of the concept behind this proposal. Now we get to the more difficult part. Could the Minister report on the current status of negotiations with the corporation to run the eight bed personal care facility in Iqaluit? Thank you.