Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has asked me a relatively difficult question as power rates are set in a general rate application process which takes years. Stacks of paper perhaps ten feet high are brought before the Public Utilities Board. I assume the Member means in fact, are the rates set so the costs are recovered on a community by community basis? The answer to that is, yes, following the last general rate application and approximately five years of work with the Public Utilities Board, communities and intervenors from across the North. The rates that the Power Corporation charges its customers are set so that each community pays its own way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, the Power Corporation had recommended to the Public Utilities Board that the rates be set in zones so there would be some sharing of capital investment across a range of communities. However, the Public Utilities Board decided that was not appropriate and has directed that the rates be set so each community pays its own way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I stated in my previous answer, there are no zones. The Public Utilities Board did not approve a zone type of rate. In other words, each community has its own rate and it is intended that each community shall pay its own cost of service. The two areas left in the corporation are an eastern division, and a western division, which have been set up to track costs east and west. I can clearly say there is no subsidization, for instance, of power rates in Nunavut by the rates in the Western Territory.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have noticed today's editorial in the Yellowknifer, which does indicate that Yellowknifers subsidize almost all other northerners. I must say that I am deeply disappointed that a northern media outlet would publish such blatant balderdash.

It is terribly disappointing that they did not bother to pick up the phone and ask me the question.

I would like to make it very clear, the people of Yellowknife do not subsidize the rates of power for any other community in the Northwest Territories.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Mr. Dent. It is on the subject of violence-free schools. I have been informed that on a daily basis, teachers are reporting incidents of unacceptable behaviour in the classrooms. Teachers are leaving the north because of violence. To date, there have been eight teachers that have terminated their employment with the Government of the Northwest Territories. I wonder if the Minister could tell us

if this is posing a problem with recruitment of teachers to the north.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have talked to the president of the NWTTA about the issue and have agreed to work with the association to find ways to address it. I am not aware that, to date, violence in northern schools has led to a problem with recruitment. It would appear that our problems with violence, on average across the Northwest Territories, are probably less than what you find in southern schools. In terms of what teachers would have to deal with in the north as compared to the south, it tends not to be quite as bad.

That does not mean that any violence is acceptable, Mr. Speaker. The thrust of our program working with the association and divisional education councils as our partners will be to try and find some way to ensure that the school environment is safe and conducive to learning. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the department have an anti-violence policy or a policy to deal with violence in the class room?