Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Most jurisdictions are changing to one diploma or certificate. What is occurring is that the basis of the education that they receive is on the transcripts and the transcripts that are sent to post-secondary institutions, depending on which one they apply to, will determine whether or not they are eligible.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Based on those students that are successful in their studies, there's been no reduction in their acceptance, with one exception. The honourable Member should be aware, and I think most Members are aware, that if you do not achieve a particular standard in any of the courses, even if you are to pass at 65 or 75 per cent in Math 30, Biology 30, Chem 30, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted in a post-secondary institution in this country. The lowest mark that is generally acceptable is about an 85 per cent average now. If you do not meet that standard, some institutions, such as Mount Royal College, require you to write an entrance exam before you are accepted. That is generally what is occurring across the country.

The problem with that is that there is a limitation to the amount of students that are being allowed into those institutions. That's a bit of a problem for us and we're trying to address it. We're trying to address the issue of centres of learning with the consortium of western Ministers, however, it is still a problem because of the significant increase in student population across the country.

Item 6, oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to indicate to the honourable Member, there are some problems with regard to portability, whether or not you go from Alberta to British Columbia or Alberta to Ontario or to the other provinces. That is one of the issues that Ministers across the country are trying to address at this particular time so that there is consistency of educational standards right across the country.

The other thing is that there are still inconsistencies and non-portability of post-secondary programs. In other words, an individual who might be in law in Dalhousie may not be accepted in law at UBC or another program, and that is of concern to us, including the technical programs, so we are working on that and I hope that despite the issue with regard to the single diploma -- I mean, it's not the issue of whether or not a student gets into a post-secondary institution but rather the courses that they take and the marks that they receive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 6, oral questions. Are there any further oral questions? Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Last October, the Minister stated that this government was looking at sending out a call for proposals to study the financing of local governments and local education committees or boards or our total system in the Northwest Territories. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance whether or not the consultant has been hired to do this work yet.

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and good afternoon. Yes, Mr. Speaker, a consultant has been hired, Enid Slack and Associates. I believe they have written to all MLAs and have sent some information out to the communities and advised them of the kind of information that they are seeking. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Can the Minister advise us as to where this Slack consulting company is located? Are they a northern consulting or a southern consulting company?

Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. They are a southern consulting company, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Koe, supplementary.

Mahsi. They are a southern consulting company, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the supplementary again. Were there no capable northern companies that could do this type of work?

Mr. Pollard.