Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There were some areas identified in the strategic plan, for example, and it may not be possible for us to do all the items in the strategic plan. I referenced early childhood development. I do not have a listing in front of me that we can say this many programs.

As I explained earlier, it would have been my hope and desire to have an opportunity to be able to identify each of the specific areas in this department. There are many like the early childhood development, the school programs, and the post-secondary education area. Certainly the area of culture is one that we could potentially look at, for it is very marginally funded. Those are the types of areas that I would have liked to have looked at, and look at possible programs to enhance and develop. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Chairman, it is still not clear to me. We are going to be giving a considerable amount of money to the schools for pupil-teacher ratio and special needs. We are going to be looking at hopefully beefing up student financial assistance. There have been deals signed with the federal government in terms of funding. While it does not increase, it is not minimized. So the only one I heard was early childhood development, which I am not sure what specific area the Minister is referring to. Given the amount of money we are putting into and the way we are trying to protect education, that particular line in his statement causes me concern.

I do not think the Minister has done a clear job of elaborating what he means by that statement. What is at risk here that we have to be apprised of, other then the adult education, which sunsets midnight on Friday? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is an interim appropriation and we were hopeful of looking at areas of potential to address. We are not confident that we are going to be able to get money for additional programs. We may be able to look at some. In my opinion, there may have been a potential to look at a lot of areas were we to have access to a substantial amount of funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Chairman, on a comparative basis, I am not sure how much more Education would like to have compared to how much less other departments are probably going to be getting.

I would not raise this issue if the Minister had not put it in his statement. It raises all sorts of red flags with me. You are saying you would like to have more money, and if you do not have more money, there are a number of things that are at risk other then adult education, which is the only clear one that I know is being sunsetted. What other things are possibly at risk that you are not going to be able to do, that are not now possible?

I would like to remind Members to address their questions to the chair. Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Chairman, I did not state that programs were at risk. What I stated was that many of the activities we may have liked to undertake are now not possible. I speak there without having details in my hand of areas like the culture program, which is one area that is very lowly funded. That is the type of area that could be looked at and said okay, we need more funding in this area and that area. It does not mean that the programs that are in existence now are in jeopardy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister indicate if they are going to pay the same kind of attention to adult education with the sunsetting of the community for skills program that sunsets on Friday at midnight, as they did for student employment coming up for this summer?

It is an equally critical program and focuses on a different clientele, but it has always been deemed to be a very significant program with many NGOs who may not have funding available after April 1st. NGOs that rely on that money, as do the adults requiring the programs that are offered. Do they have any plans at this point to rise to the challenge as they did with the student employment program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just would like to make reference to the fact that there is still $2.5 million in the college program to address adult basic education programs. With regard to the Community Skills for Work program, we are looking at that to see if we can deal with that in the budget.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to point out that the college money is geared more for access years in the college as opposed to the upgrading component.

There are a lot of programs like the YWCA, especially in Yellowknife. I know in Fort Smith with the band, they would have programs as well that deal with a lower grade and the more basic upgrading.

Will the Minister be putting some budget estimates in the main estimate come June? Is that what I heard him say? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are looking at and examining the possibility of the Community Skills for Work program. As we know, it, like the Working Together program, was funded on a one-time basis. It sunsetted last year. We are looking at it and seeing if we can put that funding into the budget for this upcoming year for June.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Chairman, can we take the comment of the phrase of examining the possibility to mean that there will be, in the main estimates, some allowance for this adult education funding that was sunsetted?

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I cannot make that commitment that it will be in. What I am saying is we are examining the possibility of seeing if we can get it in.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Does that mean then that the issue of adult education and funding for adult education will be in the business plans?