Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. If I'm correct, the honourable Member is quoting the title for a document that we actually developed. It is a consultation document that the government has sent out to the communities to get their advice on the whole matter of income reform and social program reform so that we ensure we get the advice of northern people in northern communities.

With regard to our involvement, this matter has been on the agenda of the Ministers of Education and Labour for the last year. We have been advising and discussing the issue of income and social program reform with the view that we would not be absent from any discussions of reform that would occur. In many respects, the provinces and the territories have indicated to the federal government that it was not our view that they should proceed with any reforms without our direct participation in the discussion.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, thank you. I have heard the consultation process initiated by Mr. Axworthy, extensive consultations planned in the coming year compared to the Charlottetown Accord process. I hope it doesn't have that result. I know the Minister has invited the standing committee to visit the north and hear about our unique needs and I know we have, for example, a smaller proportion of people on UIC than the rest of the country.

I'd like to ask the Minister of Education, Madam Speaker, is it the Minister's hope that people in the Northwest Territories and our government can carve out a unique niche for ourselves based on our unique circumstances so that we can make appropriate arrangements in the north to respond to these federal reform initiatives? Thank you.

Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister who is in charge of the income reform generally is Mr. Axworthy who we have been dealing with directly. Ms. Ethel Blondin-Andrew has been assigned specific responsibilities particularly with regard to pathways to find a solution in that particular area. We have raised a concern about the manner in which that particular program is being administered in the north and have advised Mr. Axworthy with regard to our concern. Both Ministers are involved, but Mr Axworthy is the lead Minister in this particular area.

---Applause

Thank you. Final Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Madam Speaker, I have heard criticism of the federal Minister's paper, that it consists of a number of generalities rather than specific proposals. I'd like to ask our Minister, Madam Speaker, his consultation process which has begun with the release of the paper, Creating Choices; is that designed to lead to specific concrete proposals which we could then present to the federal government in contrast to the generalities? Thank you.

Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes. It is intended to do that. It is intended to give, as the honourable Member has indicated, a northern perspective on solving this particular problem. In my view, I think we're leading, in many respects, across the country from some of the initiatives we've undertaken. I think what you'll find is that the people of the north will be more responsive and more supportive in terms of trying to reorganize the income support programs so that it makes people in the communities more productive and more responsive in contributing to their community.

---Applause

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kitikmeot, Mr. Ng.