Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you. I understand this is a very in-depth study and you have conducted it right across the schools in the North and they have attempted to gather information on all the special needs students, and what their needs are, and how much time these teachers are spending.

However, when the interviews were done, we were all led to believe that the information would be provided and compiled by September of this year, but we are a couple of months past September. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the hold up? Why is that information not available?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is extensive information that we have gathered and it was given to the Statistics Bureau to compile so that we get an appropriate report that analyzes it in an appropriate fashion, and that we ensure that the amount of information we have obtained is properly collated and analyzed. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if he could give us a target date that we can look forward to, to seeing this information. When will that information be available to us?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to check with the department to confirm that. I do not think that we are very far off and, by that, I mean I believe it may be within the month that we will have it together, Mr. Speaker.

I am dependant, somewhat, on another department having some input into this. As I said, the Statistics Bureau is doing a compilation for us and it may be together today, but I am just not sure of that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By delaying this document, especially after an indication that this information would be released in September of this year, many of the communities are contacting me and are asking, "Was there something in this document that we have discovered or realized the magnitude of this problem that has shocked us and is causing delay?"

Is there anything that is in this information that may have caused delay to this survey?

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

I can state that not to my knowledge, Mr. Speaker, is there anything in here that would cause us to hold the document up. We have been trying to do it properly and I just want to reassure the Member that there is no particular effort here to try to hold the document up for any particular reason. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I must say that I really appreciate the passion with which the Member of Tu Nedhe speaks on the issues affecting women. It is very good to see, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, my question today goes to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment and it has to do with the remissible loans for students who are returning to school in particular.

I have had many discussions with the Minister on this and I have read the questions and answers on this issue in the House. I am not quite clear about the department's position. I wonder if the Minister could restate, for the record, what the department's position is as of now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes. It appears to be a very in-depth question but I will allow you to exercise your broad knowledge of it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Broad and in-depth, I suppose. Mr. Speaker, this subject concerns the redesign of the Student Financial Assistance Program and, in the course of doing this, we had a lot of consultation over two years. It involved a Ministers' Commission that looked at this and committees and so forth. They came forth with recommendations. Those recommendations were to focus on northern-schooled and aboriginal students and raise the amount of dollars that students can receive, and present the program within the financial framework.

Mr. Speaker, this is an excellent program, one that we should be very, very proud of, and I think it is among the best in this country. I think it is important for us all to remember that. Perhaps I can leave the Member to ask a supplementary from there. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for coaching me in that. Let me try a specific question here. I read the answers that the Minister gave to Mr. Dent and I was hoping for this information earlier. Could the Minister advise the House as to how many students are affected by the fact that some students may have to pay back the loan that they are borrowing? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, Mr. Speaker, the question becomes one of definition because we had transition situations where people were transitioned to different programs. First of all, let me state that no one was cut off of the program. We had individuals, and all individuals received increases in the ability to receive more money for tuition, books, and living allowance, and more loans that are non-taxable and so forth. The number and cost of transition depends on the definition used, but our understanding of the students that the Member may be referring to in this category and the cost of the benefit would be around $300,000 and about 100 students. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In talking to him about this issue and reading the answers the Minister has provided, I understand the problem to be the amount of dollars required to reinstate these students. Is that the final position of the department or is he at all willing to revisit it in any way? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The cost, of course, is on an ongoing basis. It may be diminishing, but it is not just a one-time cost. As I stated yesterday, the redesign has been implemented and it is based on decisions that were made and consultations and all the work we did in the spring. Thank you.