Mr. Speaker, I think I am becoming repetitive here, not out of desire or purpose, but there is no way to address this subject other than to state that day cares in general are being operated by community organizations and on the initiative of the community. We provide support funding for that, Mr. Speaker, through several programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Premier and it is in regard to the literacy strategy. Ordinarily, I would ask Mr. Ootes. One of the guiding principles in the development of this strategy is that the strategy be government-wide and involve all departments, not be simply focused on Education, Culture and Employment. We do not want to see Education, Culture and Employment out on an island trying to sell this thing to the rest of our government.

My question for the Premier, if for no other reason than we are bottom-line focused and bottom-line driven, and we know low literacy impacts health care costs and rates of incarceration, how does the Premier put this to the front of his agenda, before Cabinet and how does he intend to implement this strategy government-wide?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intent was to have a government-wide approach to it, with the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment being the lead. We have said that we will try to develop a strategy that would be government-wide and that is the approach we are taking. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you. I recognize that is what we have stated. I would like some clarification on how we are going about that. You will forgive me if I am a little reluctant to believe that this, in fact, is going to be taken up by all the departments eagerly. We have talked about meetings among social envelope departments. They are not as frequent as they should be, we all know that.

I am wondering how the Premier intends to approach this subject and assure that it is government-wide, not just let ECE take the lead and the rest of us will be at a couple of meetings?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister for Education, Culture and Employment has more detail that can answer the Member's question, so I would like to refer it to Mr. Ootes, please.

Thank you. The Premier is exercising his prerogative and is referring it to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the approach that has been taken is that this is a government-wide initiative. Education, Culture and Employment is the lead on this and a working group was established of all departments, including Aurora College. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Bell, directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

My questions were to the Premier, can I not keep directing them to the Premier if he chooses to direct to the Minister?

Yes, Mr. Bell. I believe the Premier has redirected the nature of the questions to the Minister whose responsibility is best served, as his prerogative. Your question?

Thank you. My question will be to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Speaker, and I apologize. I was, in fact, looking for the ringing endorsement from the Big Man, but I will settle for Mr. Ootes.

-- Laughter

I want to know about this working group. I want to know how many meetings we have had to date, Mr. Speaker. It is one thing to set up a working group but entirely another thing to follow this through wthl whole-hearted commitment. If I cannot have the Premier's commitment today, in the House, I would like to have Mr. Ootes' that this working group is, indeed, active and is working toward this initiative.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The working group has been active. I do not know the particular attendance at each one, but I can assure the Member that this is a very serious subject by this government and is being treated with all the respect that the initiative is deserving of. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Your final supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Mr. Ootes for that response. Can we, in fact, look forward to implementation and discussing implementation the next time we sit down in this House to meet? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

I am sure that we can, Mr. Speaker. We intend to have the strategy together by November 30th. After that, it becomes a case of having implementation and the work plan done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for the Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and it is regarding special needs. It is my understanding that there was a survey on special needs being conducted over the spring. I would like to ask the Minister if he would confirm if that was, indeed, the case that they conducted a special needs survey?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.