The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In fact, Madam Speaker, it has been indicated to me by staff that at meetings federal officials used that particular document as part of the information they were using to argue for the reduction of resources to our languages program. That was the issue.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

James Arvaluk Aivilik

The federal and territorial governments are supposed to receive an audited report every year, explaining how the contributions were used, as required by the agreement. This was stated by the Minister on CBC and heard by my constituency. Is the Minister telling the public that the federal government wasn't able to get early information about the lapsed funds?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

I think what is clear is that when that report was brought forward to this House, it was almost a year old. And, despite the efforts on my part to clarify some of the information, I was chastised by Members of this House. In fact, during the past year, we have overspent our aboriginal languages money in our department and, yet, we are unable to put forward an argument as to the need for more funding rather than the argument now being put forward by the federal government. Because of the report and because of other information that has been brought forward, they are using the arguments against us to reduce our overall resources in our area.

In most meetings, including the meeting I was attending, the boards of education ask for more money for languages and culture. At this particular juncture, I would have to say that, as a result of our most recent agreement, we are possibly going to be looking at less and not more.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Renewable Resources. Madam Speaker, I made a statement today regarding the quality of water in the Mackenzie River. I would like to ask whether the monitoring of the river has resulted in revealing any toxins in the river, or the increase of toxins. What is the status of the monitoring that is being done of pulp mills upstream from the Mackenzie River?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The results of some of the consultation that has taken place about the Mackenzie River has resulted in a Mackenzie River Basin master agreement, which is an interjurisdictional agreement, whereby all jurisdictions agree to protect the quality and quantity of water. At this point, the agreement is going to the various jurisdictions for their approval. At this point, I'm not able to directly answer the question that the honourable Member is asking about the quality of water in the Mackenzie River.

If there is a specific area of the Mackenzie River he is asking about, I would be willing to provide that information to the Member. But, at this point, I am not certain of the answer to his question. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Supplementary, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Madam Speaker, the area I referred to in my statement is the area between Fort Providence and Fort Simpson. I also mentioned Trout River and Redknife River, but I didn't travel through those rivers. I just went by them. The only observation I can make is that the fish that are dead in the river are not coming from those rivers. I presume the toxins are coming from other sources. I am asking the Minister whether or not there has been some monitoring done in the Great Slave Lake to Inuvik? Are we experiencing any increase in toxins in the river, that are causing the fish to die?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the honourable Member for clarifying his question. From what I understand, the results of the fish dying in the specific area the honourable Member is asking about is a question that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans of the federal government is trying to answer. At this point, we have not yet heard what the results are. Thank you, Madam Speaker.