Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the Minister for that confirmation and with that, it gives me some concern because I have raised issues in the area of the education system for quite a number of years since I became a Member and the previous Assembly as well.

In fact, when we look at this, I just have to say this comment as well. It has been said before that a strategy without funding is nothing more than a campaign slogan.

Mr. Chairman, if this system is built on the existing system and we are talking, for example, in career development of stay-in-school campaign and career technology studies, career development, how is it going to be tied to there? I brought an issue up, for example, to the Social Programs Committee as they went through business plan reviews and I was given information that, in our existing system, we have quite a concern. In fact, I will use my community for some specifics.

Right now, this year, there are approximately 25 percent, or a quarter of our high school students going into the program level of 16,26,36. That will be the high school level. That is a system that we have adopted. We have joined with the Alberta curriculum and joined that and that program has been reduced. Their credit value has been reduced from five credit courses to three credit courses. So my understanding, unless there have been recent changes within the department, and hopefully there have been because I know the committee raised it on my behalf, but there should be some changes if it has not been taken on.

The fact is, anybody who is in that program of 16-26-36 courses, they can successfully complete all of those courses and, at the end of that time, they will not have enough credits to get a diploma. I know there is a bridging process put in place for those students to write the English 33. I guess it is to try to bridge them up to qualify for a grade 12 diploma. The fact is that is adding almost an extra year in some cases to some of these students, costing this government even more money.

Number two is that when we talked about career development or pre-technology courses or apprenticeship programs, my understanding is within these courses as well, some of the criteria for the math and the sciences would not allow a student who successfully completed that program to be able to challenge a pre-trades exam and pass it successfully.

Now I am aware that there has been ongoing work within the regions in the area of, what they call SNAP. I guess the Department of Education has worked on that, Students North Apprenticeship Programs. However, because the criteria in some of these courses do not tie up with challenging the exam, they are having problems with this. I know there has been work done by those in the district education councils throughout the Territory on the SNAP access program, which would provide the proper courses and criteria to challenge the exam and pass it successfully.

You know, I look at this and I say, Well, it is very good and well that we are planning this, however, for example, 2000-01, we are three quarters through the year. It is pretty well done and we do not have a wooden nickel to show for this plan. You rub that wooden nickel and a plugged nickel together and we still get nothing. I agree.

I have just been passed a note and another colleague of mine reminded me of the other issue tied to the SNAP access. In Alberta, the 16 and 26 program is an occupational program, an integrated occupational program. That is how they have addressed this 16-26-36 course, so that students coming through that system, at the end of their twelfth year can get a diploma that shows potential employees that these students are work ready and can qualify for entry level jobs in the field.

Right now, my concern is if this does not change, and just addressing the community of Inuvik, in the high school this fiscal year, we are setting up a quarter of our student population for failure. That is unacceptable. No matter how grand you tie a program and a plan together, if our existing system is not functioning, we are throwing good money after bad, in a sense. You tie all of this to one of my pet peeves for awhile, and I know that this might get the blood pumping in some people that I know, but it is in the social pass area. That is an area that we allow to happen.

It is almost as though we are working on quantity, not quality. I know there are studies out there that say it is not good to give a student a test and have them fail and they would be marked with that for the rest of their life. I came through a system that was rather rigorous, that you had to pass exams to get through to the next grade and I think I came out okay.

The Beaufort Delta region has actually instituted a number of tests throughout. It is an area of concern. I think that if we can get funding for this proposal, all the better. However, we better ensure the existing programs we have are working and are producing quality students, students who can write challenged, pre-trades exams. We want students out of school ready to take on the apprenticeship programs that will be available out there.

We are pushing, for example, BHP. When the Diavik mine comes on, if we are pushing them to hire North, then let us train apprentices. If we have a bunch of students come out of our school system and they cannot challenge the tests, that is not a ringing endorsement for our system. That is a very difficult area and I hope that there is work going on. Maybe there are some changes in the midst right now or in the process of happening. If there are, I would applaud this department for being proactive in this area and taking the necessary steps. Right now, as I understand it, we are setting up some of our students for failure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.