Minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that there is some sort of policy that is followed internally, but at the present time I do not know the answer. So I will take the question as notice. Thank you.

Thank you. The question is taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I must advise the honourable Members that the review itself took place over a period of approximately a year, since the advice we received approximately a year ago on our budgets was that we needed to consider the cuts. So it was done in conjunction with the boards.

Initially, we began with a ten per cent cut and we reduced it to a point where it was such that we made reductions of about 2.5 per cent across the board, with all our divisional boards of education. We reviewed the matter. We ourselves are taking a substantial reduction. That reduction includes approximately 29 PYs in our department which was approved by the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I don't know if the Minister heard my question, but I asked whether or not his department was able to further review to determine whether or not there was any type of funding anywhere to be able to reinstate this 2.5 per cent cut that was granted to all the boards. Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In our own assessment and review, having made the decision to make a number of cuts including those to the boards, we had to make the decision that there had to be some overall cuts and the result was that there was a two per cent reduction in the resources that we are providing to the boards.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Would the Minister be able to advise this House with regard to the overall amount of funding which was cut from each board and provide it to the House? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I have the information. The problem is those are detailed questions, and I will certainly provide the honourable Member with the information.

Item 6, oral questions. Final supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Not a final supplementary, Mr. Speaker; just for clarification, is the Minister taking the question as notice. I didn't quite hear his reply. Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member asked if I could provide the information, and I indicated to her that I would provide all Members with the information in written form. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, I know that the Minister of Finance and his officials have been talking to the federal government about the renewal of the formula financing agreement. I wonder if the Minister of Finance could just give us an update as to the progress of those negotiations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was asked a question by Mr. Koe about this earlier this week, and I replied that there was to be a meeting this week of the working group which would be Canada, ourselves and the Yukon, to discuss the latest issues in the formula financing renewal. I was advised yesterday that Yukon was unable to attend so the meeting was called off. So that meeting will occur next week and I hope to be able to give this House an update by Thursday on what is happening.

What they will be discussing this week is Canada's position, the Yukon's position and our position so that everybody is very clear on where everyone is coming from. I anticipate that after that meeting there will be a senior management meeting, which would be at the deputy minister level, to further discuss those proposals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.