Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was trying to point out that all of us really understand the need for us to change, to respond to the needs of our children, particularly as it applies to educational programs and services. We all understand the value of them. I think, despite some of the criticisms that may be directed toward us, I have always been open to the concept of consultation and change. But, consultation takes time and it requires a certain amount of patience in order for us to do the work properly.

Change for the sake of change is not good enough. Change to improve the services and the programs is what we are all about, and we should all be encouraging. We need to change to have our programs more responsive to the needs of our children. We have to make changes so that our educational system provides for an opportunity for our young people to participate in a global economy, not only within our communities, but have the opportunity of going out of this territory to be seen as an equal to every other graduate of a high school or every graduate of a college program. I think that is absolutely necessary.

It is interesting, but our fundamental changes or reviews that have gone on, there are some changes that have occurred -- changes that have been led by former Ministers like Mr. Patterson, Mr. Kakfwi, Mr. Allooloo and Mr. Arvaluk -- all of which have resulted in more public control of education, more cultural and language programming, more aboriginal staff in our schools, more students accessing educational programs and also a flourishing college system.

In some cases, we should stand tall and be proud of the accomplishments of our institutions. We don't always recognize that we are one of ten institutions in North America that has a renewable resource technology program that is recognized as one of the ten best in North America. We don't promote it, but the simple fact is that it is a reality. We should stand tall when we see a situation like Arviat occur when more high school students graduate. It is as a result of community and business support that we receive an award presented to us by the Conference Board of Canada.

Those are small things, but they are big in terms of how we continue to promote our educational system. I admit to you that we are not at a level where we can all say that all the programming that we are offering in our communities is at an equal level or at comparable levels, but that is not without trying and that is not without a need for all of us, including the department and myself as Minister, to continue to encourage change and improvements to our programs and services, including our delivery systems.

I also wanted to say to the Standing Committee on Finance that I appreciate your support. I appreciate your concern. I appreciate the priority that you have given education. I think that we -- if we truly believe that we can work together and provide clear and constructive advice and have a dialogue, not only in this Assembly, but with our communities -- can change and bring about change to respond to the needs and requirements that we all have for educational programs.

In concluding, Mr. Chairman, I wanted to say again that for the general presentation on the document itself, Towards a Strategy to 2010: A Discussion Paper, I will ask Helen Balanoff to make the presentation and if there is need for additional response, Hal Gerein, the deputy minister, Ms. Balanoff and myself will respond to some of the questions as a result of the information provided to you. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.