Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In regards to the issue of grade extensions and the comment that they do cost money, yes they do. The grade extensions were financed by the reprofiling of the $8 million that was saved as a result of the shutdown of the various residences I mentioned earlier. Your reference to a community that wishes to possibly send their students outside the community to go to school is an option that in fact they do have, but they have to be prepared to, at this point, live within their existing budget, working with the DEC at the region in the Sahtu. As I indicated at one point, they have about $250,000, I believe roughly for their grade extension. They have to look at, once again, if they wish to send students south, can they do it with $250,000? If you pull x number of students and that money out of the community, there are implications down the line in terms of the effect that decision will have. They have to look at that. Very clearly at this juncture, as I indicated, there is no new money.
In regard to the letter that Mr. Ootes tabled today, I as well have seen the letter and was struck by the same concerns that the Member raised about the seeming inefficiency of not giving permanent positions and spending, I think it was $18,000 a year roughly to relocate teachers in and out which is a significant cost that is getting checked into by the department. That was one of the first things I asked that they do to find out what the situation is there.
Very clearly, like any organization the size that we are, the issue of efficiency should always be on everybody's mind. Are there efficiencies and economies to be realized? I think there are. Where they are, I think we have to look at some that have been identified like that issue raised in the letter.
The Ministers' forum, as I indicated previously, the plan is that we are going to be looking at the non-monetary recommendations that the department has already been doing that. We will be meeting this week with the forum members themselves to look at their further more specific suggestions in terms of implementation. As well, the week of the 25th of May, we are meeting for three days with the board chairs, DEC board chairs, to as well look at the Ministers' Forum, the strategic plan and accountability framework where we are going to try to touch on a number of critical issues. I still stand by the commitment that I will be able to bring back something in June to this House that will outline specifically how we intend to try and implement working with the communities and the DEAs, those non-monetary items raised in the Minister's forum. Thank you.