Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize. I did not catch the full question. Can I have the Member repeat it please?

Mr. Krutko, your second supplementary.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said earlier, we do have a limited amount of dollars available in our budget for grants and contributions. We have approximately $95,000 for the women's initiative grant, we have $167,000 for the Native Women's Association, we have $296,000 for the Status of Women Council. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that is all the dollars we do have within the Executive's budget on grants and contributions. I know, previously, Members of the Assembly were quite concerned if we reduced any grants and contributions to the women's organizations or the Native Women's Association. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Morin

Centres

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will commit to the Member, and to the friendship centres, that we will work with our local organizations in the communities, as well as, with the friendship centres, the Metis locals, the band councils, the local elected hamlets, settlements or towns, to look at the funds that are existing in those communities to see how they can better use those funds. I will commit to that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have a disposal of goods policy that we do use. The local government, whether it is a hamlet, settlement or whatever municipal government, the band council and the Metis local, all these three are treated equally on the disposal of property assets with this government. I do know that in the past, for example, the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre in Hay River, we gave them that building and the Metis local as a government, for a dollar. The book value on that building I believe was $380,000, the old liquor store warehouse. The last time I went by there, there was a beehive of activity and they are making very good use of it. It was a good investment by our government by giving them that building. I should know that. My mother started it or was very instrumental in starting it many, many years ago.

Oral questions. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as to my Member's statement earlier this morning, I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if any equipment that was used by the language bureau could be made available for friendship centre use? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

No, Mr. Speaker. It would be inappropriate for me to commit to one department versus another department. As Finance Minister, I have the obligation and responsibility to make sure that monies that we distribute to the programs and departments are done in a fair and reasonable way based upon the priorities of the government. We have heard earlier today everybody speaking about the friendship centres and need for additional dollars there. We have heard in the House from Mr. Picco himself that we need money for librarians, we need money for teachers, we need money for health, we need money for everything according to him the last three or four years. What I would say is that, if there are any surpluses or slippages in departments, we would look at it as an overall approach to government and allocate those dollars accordingly, but at this time, I have not seen any surpluses or slippages. Thank you.