Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned the need for the cleaning of Cape Christian in my Member's statement, my question will be directed to the program Minister, Stephen Kakfwi, Minister of RWED. Will the department consider using the Royal Military College's evaluation of the site, instead of conducting its own evaluation? Thank you.

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the honourable Minister. Will the department be undertaking a thorough cleanup of the site this summer? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my earlier Member's statement, concerning education, I would like to address some questions to the Premier with regard to the role the government is playing with the open letters that have been published in the newspapers with the letters and documentation that have been tabled in this House. My question would be to the Premier on what direction is the Premier giving his staff, his Ministers on a continuing call for support to education? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Premier of the Northwest Territories, I do not direct the Ministers to deal with any given issue. I ask them to always take a look at any public concern that is raised, such as education, health and social services, whatever, and try to address the issue. Basically, we, as a government, have to respond to public concerns raised and we do that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how is the Premier implementing this response to the people? The Premier just told us he was responding. How is the Premier responding to these calls for reform to the education system and with allocation of funds? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whenever we have a public concern raised, if it is addressed to myself, I do pass it on to the Ministers responsible and ask them to respond on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. They are tasked with their ministerial duties for any given department, whether it is education, justice, health or whatever. They will respond to those requests. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this House I have questions to the Minister for Education. We have heard he has been working very hard to try to work within a budget that has been cut. The Premier was also present when the motion was introduced in the House and passed last month. I am wondering what response has the Premier taken in regard to the motion passed last month in communication with his other Ministers and the Minister of Education? Thank you.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member is well aware that as Cabinet Members, as Members of the Legislative Assembly, people get a lot of requests. The few you hear about today are specific requests for more money for education. Yellowknife wants more money for diamond mines. Someone else wants more money for compassionate travel. There is a constant barrage of requests for dollars. We, as a Legislative Assembly, all 24 of us, agreed to balance the budget in the Legislative Assembly. We have accomplished that. We do not plan on going out and spending more than we take in. We do not plan on going into a deficit. We have very specific direction from this Legislative Assembly that we should operate within a balanced budget, with a given amount of deficit. We plan on finishing our term doing that. Thank you.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we have balanced the budget and yes, we have a small surplus projected. We are all moving forward. Mr. Speaker, I think the

concern with education that has been raised over today and the last several months, as Mr. Erasmus stated earlier in his statement, as Ms. Groenewegen stated in her statement, I am wondering will the Premier now tell us what is the direction he will be taking as the head of this government to lead us somewhere, not only fiscally, but fundamentally, logistically with education and education concerns. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Morin.