Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the Minister a few questions about the digital communications network and how it is affected, specifically in this interim, but more specifically overall as the department sees it in its ongoing plans.

I know we see a lot of uses for the digital communications network in education, specifically distance learning is obviously going to be very valuable. This government has made a conscious decision to get into what we call grade extensions in the communities, where we would like to provide high school courses in the smaller communities, instead of shipping the kids away from home. I think that distance learning will certainly be a huge asset in this area. Specialized courses can probably now be offered in some of the small communities where there may not be a physics or chemistry teacher. As well, additional training for teachers can be ongoing. They can get online training over the digital communications network.

But we know we heard problems from all departments. We have heard problems from this department that we have a lack of bandwidth. It would cost us a lot of money to upgrade the service, to make it useable in this area. I would like to get a handle on what kind of money would have to be sunk into the digital communications network to make distance learning a reality, because I think it is a very valuable initiative.

First, I would like to ask the Minister how much money the Department of Education, Culture, and Employment has spent in this area to date on this initiative, in both capital and operations and maintenance?