Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I might provide a return to a question asked by Mr. Patterson on February 15, 1995 regarding involvement of divisional boards in the Nunavut Education Planning Committee; more particularly, our department.

For the information of the honourable Members, on January 6, 1995, I wrote as the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, to the chairperson of the Nunavut Education Planning Committee to help clarify the role and the mandate of the committee. The focus of the letter was also to ensure that those involved in education, culture and employment programs work cooperatively to provide quality programs and services.

The Nunavut Education Planning Committee had been focusing their work on organizational and administrative issues. The Nunavut Implementation Commissioner and Members of the Legislative Assembly already have the responsibility to address organizational structures for the delivery of programs. The letter recommended that although it may be necessary for the committee to discuss these matters, it should focus its attention on finding ways to improve the programs and services delivered in Nunavut while managing the related costs. The letter also noted the boards and divisional boards and colleges are responsible for program delivery, and that we need the benefit of their experience to improve programs.

The letter suggested that, given the need to focus on programs, departmental staff could be better used to continue their participation as resources to the committee, rather than serve as members on a committee making recommendations to the Minister. A strategic plan to 2010 describes the need to build a learning system with all our partners, and responds to the needs and aspirations of northerners.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment, boards and divisional boards of education and the colleges will continue to work cooperatively with members of the Nunavut Education Planning Committee to enable success of the systems for education and training in Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.