Thank you, Mr. Chairman. During the last few weeks, I have listened to the media with regard to the interpreter training program. I believe the program is being reduced or eliminated. What is happening in that area? I know there have been reports done on that. I am sure the communities are just as concerned. Some people were even expressing an interest in taking an interpreter training program, but because of that announcement, there has been some discouragement on their part to even consider pursuing that as a career.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I feel obligated to answer that question. I believe some of the concerns which were raised were related to the new language agreement and some of the various programs that are conducted in the different departments. There is going to be no reduction. For example, the Department of Health has a program where there is a training component in their department. There is a training program in the Department of Education as well. We are trying to rationalize it so that the training programs are conducted by Arctic College. It is not taking anything away from what is available. If there is anyone who has a concern, that concern should be eliminated. We are talking only about how best to deliver. We have an Arctic College, it is well set up to provide the training. We see no need for duplicating training programs within departments as there is a program in the Department of Justice as well. So, they all conduct their training programs. If we can provide better use of funds by having the Arctic College conduct those training programs for those departments, it probably would facilitate more people, so it is not taking away. We are trying to work together so the dollars are best used for the programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I could supplement the response by the Premier, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will complete a review of the interpreter/translator training programs in the next fiscal year. In other words, we are doing an assessment of them. In the terms of reference, the review will be circulated to the departments of Justice, Health and other official languages units for comment. We also plan to consult with other partners through their review, such as clients, our instructors, students and graduates of the programs. That is basically what is going on. The Premier is correct that there is no diminishment of the program. It is a rationalization and improvement to the training that we are offering.

Mr. Chairman, the program is no longer going to be operated by Arctic College, then?

No, that is not what is being suggested. In fact, we are trying to rationalize training that is being offered by other departments through Arctic College. That is what we are trying to accomplish. Presently, there are a number of departments that have their own training programs separate from the Arctic College itself. We are delivering those programs almost in isolation. As a result of that, we are sort of tripping over each other. We are trying to make sure that we have one delivery mechanism so that we provide the best service possible. That is generally how it is being proposed.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I requested from the Minister a listing of the courses and what is being offered in the communities with regard to high school. The Minister has provided me with some of it. I have noticed that all of the smaller areas, like Fort Good Hope, Coppermine, and Cambridge Bay, have about 15 programs as opposed to places like Fort Smith, Inuvik, and Yellowknife, where you have about two pages of programs. Why is it that there is such a vast difference in the delivery of programs between the smaller communities and the larger communities?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The programs and the courses that are offered in the communities are determined by the communities, parents, boards and CECs. That is who determines them. We, then, respond to the requests that have been made by the communities. If they, for instance, request other programs, then we will respond to them as well, but we are just responding to the requests that have been made.

I am getting confused with regard to what the Minister said previously, Mr. Chairman. He said previously that all the programs that are delivered here or in the smaller communities are consistent with what is being delivered in Alberta. Is the Minister now suggesting that that is not the case and it is determined by the communities?

No, Mr. Chairman. We are consistent with the Alberta curriculum in high school. Level 15 courses are offered in high schools across Alberta and we are implementing them because that is the program area that has been requested. In some of the communities the honourable Member notes, for instance, I believe it is in Pond Inlet that we are introducing 10, 20 and 30 programs and those have been requested by the communities. If the communities request that we deliver that, we will deliver that, but that is all part of the core program and we respond to whatever request is made.

Mr. Chairman, under all the listings I have received, I have not received anything on what is being offered in Fort Providence. I would like to know what is being offered in Fort Providence as far as high schools.

I apologize to the honourable Member if that was not provided. I will provide the honourable Member immediately with a copy. I don't have it here with me. I was under the illusion that somehow that was provided to the

Member. We will get back to the honourable Member as soon as possible.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this morning I made a statement with regard to culture and the existing laws regarding aboriginal traditions and customs. One of the statements that I have made for the last ten years is we keep putting in what is very unique, what is very separate from white, Euro-Canadian laws in order for it to be recognized and I am always put in a situation where I disagree with that absolutely. One of the reasons is that you have taken away what was the responsibility of aboriginal people, aboriginal parents, aboriginal grandparents and aboriginal children; basically, what is rightfully theirs. We plan it in a school system which is totally out of whack with the way things are being learned, the way it is being carried out. I know that the Minister is going to be doing a review of the Education Act and I am hoping that as a result of the public hearing we will be able to say to the communities we have tried cultural inclusion programs in the act for ten years, since 1982, I believe, when the Special Committee on Education went around. Thanks to Dennis, I have been fighting that section since it was made a part of the Education Act. I want to tell the Minister that this is one area in which I do hope there are some changes made. If custom adoptions are legally recognized in the courts by virtue of section 35, I would hope that all aboriginal languages, music, stories and everything else are recognized and that you allow and encourage the communities to take on those responsibilities and provide the resources necessary for them to carry them out. I would say that the results would be more positive than if we left them in the schools. Somehow it just doesn't seem right to communities. Mr. Chairman, that was the comment.