Mr. Speaker, no. The fact is that we are going to no longer continue with the program, despite its success, because of the financial situation that we, as a government, find ourselves in. The other concern that we have -- and I think the honourable Member raised this point with me some time ago along with other Members, is with providing the same kind of incentive program for students in other programs, whether or not they were in social services or the business administration program in the Northwest Territories. If we were to provide that, that would be a very significant financial burden on this government. It would cost this government more than the dollars we have in place.

So, what we are doing, Mr. Speaker, is reviewing the whole student financial assistance program, with a view to improving it to respond to some of the issues that the students in Saskatchewan have raised, some of the students in Yellowknife have raised and students in other post-secondary institutions have raised. That review is under way at this particular time and we will be consulting with the students and Members of the process.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recognizing that the teacher education program in the north only allows for a certificate once students have completed that program and recognizing that the University of Saskatchewan Indian teacher education program allows for a degree, I would like to ask the Minister -- if they are reviewing the program, and taking into account the government's intent to get as many aboriginal teachers in the north as they can by the year 2000 -- if he would reconsider looking at this program and allow this inequity to be eliminated for the aboriginal residents attending the University of Saskatchewan?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Removing the program itself removes the inequity. The review of the student financial assistance program may identify areas where we can be more helpful and supportive in providing post-secondary financing without it being identified as unfair or unequal. In that context, we are reviewing the manner in which we are providing student financial assistance to students.

The other thing the honourable Member has raised which has not been considered -- and I mentioned it earlier -- is dealing with the issue on a student-by-student basis. I don't personally know the files of the individuals. The staff may be able to identify those areas where present programs can be applied to students. There are some situations where students are not taking advantage of existing programs or are not aware of existing programs. I can advise that, in some cases, students were not aware that they had an opportunity to access our child care program, for instance. They were not knowledgeable about additional housing allowances where economic circumstances require more funding.

Unless we deal with them individually, it makes it very difficult for me to say that we are unable to respond to the concerns. But I do want to say to the honourable Member that it is our intention to address some of the concerns. If we can't then, obviously, we'll have to advise the students that we're unable to at this particular juncture. But I will have a staff member meet with those particular students.

Item 7, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the honourable Premier of this government. During my recent visit to Gjoa Haven, one of the concerns that was brought to my attention regarded income tax forms and UIC forms received by recipients in small communities across the territories. The concern being that most of the recipients are not able to read English. Sometimes very important information ends up on the shelf or in file 13, never to be seen again. One of the solutions that was brought to my attention at that meeting was perhaps that the federal government should provide PYs in each region to help those people who need help. My question to the honourable Premier is would the Premier undertake to contact our federal counterparts to see if it is possible to have manpower in each region under the payroll of the federal government? Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I have done is discuss with my colleagues ways and means to solve the problem. Certainly, it is a federal responsibility and I will follow up on the suggestion and the concerns the Member raised. I haven't done all the work that is necessary but I will convey the message very seriously on behalf of the people having difficulties. I will try to get some response out of the Minister in Ottawa in a week's time. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 7, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment made a statement on Heritage Day, because Heritage Day is being celebrated today in many places across Canada. In the Northwest Territories, we have many different heritages and cultures; a lot of diverse cultures. Over the years, I'm sure there have been numerous requests from different groups and organizations to designate a day in a year to celebrate their achievements. I'm just wondering what initiatives the Minister is undertaking to establish a heritage day in the Northwest Territories as a recognized holiday.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. I'm just trying to think, Mr. Speaker. We haven't taken the initiative to the point of it being a holiday. I think what we need to do is take advantage of a day like today, which is Heritage Day in much the same way as the Yellowknife school board who identified it as a day for students to participate in a heritage event. The communities and school boards can review this matter and expand the nature of the day that has been identified. But we have not identified a day in the year as a holiday. That point has been made to me before and I'm not certain we could afford the holiday, without it being part of an overall plan for the school year.

Thank you. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, there have been requests: specifically, the Metis for a Louis Riel day; the Gwich'in have indicated they would like a holiday for the anniversary of the signing of their agreement; and the Inuvialuit also. I wonder what the Minister has done with requests such as these, specifically where they are asking this government to designate a day for these groups to celebrate their achievements. Is anything being done with regard to these requests?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The problem with trying to deal with the requests that have been made points to the very question the honourable Member raised. Each group wants a specific holiday and the problem is not that Members here don't want to recognize the invaluable contributions of those groups and people, but if you start identifying days which are separate, then there would be more than just one day. The point I was trying to get at is that we have identified Heritage Day in Canada and the thing now is to take advantage of that, even to the point where the school boards can identify it as a part of cultural event that includes the Metis and, in the case of the Gwich'in, the Gwich'in and the community in that surrounding region. It could be a much bigger event than just simply the matter that has been identified by the federal government and we need to work together to make certain that we can respond to the requests that have been made by the Metis Nation, the Gwich'in Nation, and other aboriginal organizations. I am prepared to work with them to see if we can bring together some consensus on this particular issue.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just following up on that, then, and going back to my original question, will the Minister also be investigating the possibility of setting a date specific, this day in particular, the third Monday in February, as a holiday in the Northwest Territories?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we need to discuss that particular matter. One has to recognize what it is in terms of cost to government to allow our staff off during that particular time. It's interesting, Mr. Speaker, but the Government of Alberta, despite their efforts to recognize today as one of those days, is, in fact, moving to identify, I believe, the third Sunday in every February as Heritage Day so that they don't lose money in terms of expenditures. I will take into consideration the comments of the honourable Member and hopefully we can get some resolution, but it is a cost factor and that should be considered.

Thank you. Item 7, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Mr. Speaker, last April, in 1994, the Dene-Metis Holdings of Fort Smith sent a letter to the committee of deputy ministers which reflected a meeting in the fall of 1993, which was basically about the need for Dene-Metis Holdings to become involved in the development of proposed hangar maintenance facilities. Then, in July, another letter was sent to the then Minister of DPW requesting negotiations to start which, apparently, they have never received a formal response to. However, Mr. Speaker, the Dene-Metis learned through discussions and news releases that the NWT Metis National Assembly in Fort Norman would be given the entire project for the provision of operation, maintenance, and service for the CL-215, birdogs and heavy land bases. I would like to ask the Premier what intergovernmental and external consultation process was used in the formation of the government action plan to obtain services for the operation and maintenance of the CL-215s, heavy land-based water bombers and birdog aircraft in carrying out its mandate to fight forest fires? Thank you.

Madam Premier.