Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, the final decision has been made that we will be closing

Akaitcho Hall and will be moving more into home boarding in this community.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I can't answer for Mr. Kakfwi. The fact is that I've inherited an initiative that he started, and that was the regional high school program area, in fact, the initiative of moving toward community high school programs.

What we have to understand is, as a government, we also have to consider the matter of costs to run particular programs. The other element that is important for us to consider is that there are now, in Yellowknife for instance, over 100 additional home boarding opportunities for our children. There is a reduction in the total students who are going to be attending high school in Yellowknife because of our regional high school programming that is being offered, and the possibility of extending those particular high school grades in our communities.

In that sense, I think we're doing a better job and I think we'll be more successful in retaining or keeping our high school students in high school. Many of them drop out because they are concerned about their homes and their families at the community level.

I guess I speak as a former student who spent 13 years...I don't know how many of you here spent 13 years in the student residence, but I spent 13 years away from my family. I will tell you that I would rather have these young students staying home with their family, rather than spending as much time away from their home as I did.

Thank you. The honourable Member for Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark. Supplementary.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Now that we have established that the closure of Akaitcho Hall is imminent, we know it's going to be closed, there is speculation in the air that perhaps Arctic College may take over the facility, or the private sector. What is the fate of Akaitcho Hall? Is anyone taking over the facility to perhaps take in students from outside of this community? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Education, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We have not, at this time, made any decisions about the future use of Akaitcho Hall. What we have done is established a group in the government to review proposals. A number of agencies have indicated the possible utilization of Akaitcho Hall. One is Yellowknife Education District No. 1 in terms of our discussions with transfer of Sir John to their authority. Secondly, Arctic College is another agency that has expressed an interest in the possible utilization of college programming at Akaitcho. So, in that sense, we have not made any determination at this particular juncture.

Thank you. Item 5, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Whitford.