Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll be happy to do that.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

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

Madam Speaker, generally speaking, most of them are government employees except those interpreters/translators who we have in addition on contract.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

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

Madam Speaker, I am unable to provide that as it varies depending on what contracts we're talking about. So I'll get the information and provide the honourable Member the detailed costs associated to those contracts.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

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

I can indicate, Madam Speaker, to the honourable Member that we're looking at a number of alternatives as a result of the whole issue of the cutbacks by the federal government to our financial resources for aboriginal languages and French, as well. However, that will only be determined after an assessment has been done to ensure that we are providing proper services to the general public. That's one of the considerations, but we haven't reached any final conclusions on that yet.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just to indicate to the honourable Member that there have

been no decisions that have been made on this issue at this particular juncture. One of the alternatives has been considered, along with the issue of maintaining staff in government. But the question we're trying to ask and determine is whether or not the service would be better provided by agencies outside of government. But, the issue has not been determined, has not been taken to Cabinet and I'm not going to make any decision to change the issue until we go to Cabinet.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I can advise the honourable Member that I'll report back to the Members of the House. However, if there are circumstances where we can move to a cost-saving measure that will still provide this government with adequate access in services... The fact is that some aboriginal organizations may want to consider the idea of providing language services. We haven't determined that, and I'm not at the stage right now where I can say to the honourable Member that we've made a decision. So when we get to that point, obviously, through the budgetary process, I'll advise and inform the honourable Members.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Yesterday I made a statement in the House with regard to the Canada/Northwest Territories infrastructure agreement, which was signed August 24th. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Just about $1 million committed by the federal government was from the First Nations infrastructure program. The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs officials are part of the approval process. Can the Minister assure me that, at the very least, this amount of money would be allocated to projects priorized by the First Nations organizations? Mahsi.

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