Mahsi. Arctic College's alcohol and drug program is fairly new and is trying to be enhanced. What changes are being made to include some of the spiritual and cultural components that Nechi has into the alcohol and drug programs provided by Arctic College?

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will just indicate that many appropriate changes can be accommodated to respond to the training needs and cultural differences of the residents of the Northwest Territories. What seems to be the big debate at this particular time between a number of communities is whether they want to participate in

the northern training program or whether they want to continue in the Nechi program. That is the crux of the problem. My suggestion to the residents of the Northwest Territories is to help Arctic College develop a program that is more responsive to these needs, including spiritual and cultural requirements, in the northern training program. We would be prepared to consider these program changes if necessary.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response. I assume, though, that Arctic College programs for alcohol and drug treatment are delivered in central locations. Is Arctic College willing to look at delivering the alcohol and drug counsellor training programs at some of our alcohol and drug treatment centres?

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Any of those considerations could be made by Arctic College and by the department, but I would be a bit cautious about indicating to the honourable Member in the affirmative until we see what the design of the program is. I think we could consider the concept, as with the teacher education program where we run it on a community by community basis, with modules being run in a central location. There is nothing to suggest we can't consider that.

Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education. The Minister knows that there are quite a few students attending school outside the NWT, and there is no policy to guide the parents on what sort of financial assistance they can gather if schooling is available in their community or region. I would like to ask the Minister if the department is drafting a policy that would address those students attending school outside the NWT.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The basic policy we've adopted as a government is to deliver our education programs in the NWT. It is not my intention to promote the idea of not developing the educational system. While I understand the issue the honourable Member is raising, I think our main focus should be developing quality educational programs in the NWT. That's our first priority and that's the approach I'm taking at this point in time.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Madam Speaker, I don't dispute that the quality of education in the community is going to improve. I believe it is still improving and it will continue to do so for a long time. For those students who are interested in taking courses that are not available in their community or region, would the Minister be willing to develop a policy to address that sort of requirement? These students are mostly very bright. I know the first priority of the Minister, his staff and Cabinet is to educate our kids to the fullest. There are students who are very bright, and the courses they want to take are not available in their communities or regions so their parents are sending them out. Is the Minister willing to support developing a policy that would address those particular students? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am prepared to consider the idea but I'm not going to suggest to the Member that I'm going to support a policy of that nature. I would rather, if I could suggest, support a programming initiative in the Northwest Territories that would respond to those students. I would be very careful about how a policy that is being suggested by the honourable Member is considered or, for that matter, implemented. It could mean that a lot of students or parents could find ways to suggest that their child could qualify for a program of that nature. It's no different than the student residence/home boarding policy. Once you make a change to it and allow options, then it seems to fall apart. I would be very careful about that, but I will consider the comments that are being made by the honourable Member.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the Minister agree with me, in sending a certain group of students outside the Northwest Territories may cost the government less money? Madam Speaker, recently I received a letter from the Minister saying that in order to send a student from Pond Inlet to Iqaluit to attend high school, it costs this government $24,000 a year. I have a student in a southern institution whose parents are paying all of the costs and it's not as much as that. Would the Minister agree with me that in some cases it will cost this government less to send the students outside? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would not argue with the point that is being made by the honourable Member, however, the concept of building an educational system in the Northwest Territories is expensive no matter how we look at it. Our first commitment is to build a quality educational system in the north. That's our first priority.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

Minister of Housing, Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The process for reviewing the rental structure in the Northwest Territories for the Housing Corporation is, right now we're out in the communities gathering all the information from your constituents. Once the information is documented, then the Member will be informed of how it would effect his riding, also the community will be informed. A new rental structure will be discussed through the advisory committee, through Cabinet and through Members of the Assembly, then the community will be informed. There will be no adjustments for rent until 90 days after the process has all gone through. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.