Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we are talking about a very specific issue. We are not talking about the general state of the program or how the program content is. We are talking about a very specific funding issue. The Minister said they were talked to about a year ago, and that is the last time they were talked to.

This government is talking about ceasing funding Friday at midnight to a whole host of NGOs in many constituencies across the Northwest Territories. It would seem to me that expecting NGOs a year ago to keep in mind that there may not be any funding is not really adequate. It is not really compassionate. It is not a sufficient heads-up that in three and a half days, we are going to cut the legs out from under a number of critical adult education programs that caters to a very specific need and a segment of our population that, for the most part, is under-privileged and comes from difficult circumstances. The best we can say is they should have known about it because they signed an agreement a year ago.

The politics have changed. There is a new government here. There is some bad news coming down the pipe. I would like some clarification from the Minister that they are being a little more compassionate in terms of letting people down. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I mentioned, there has been regular contact with the NGOs along the way. I appreciate what Mr. Miltenberger is saying, and certainly it is of concern. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Minister says it is a concern, but he acknowledges that on a financial point of view, it had not been talked to for a year. He has made no offer to suggest that while we can attempt...there is three and a half days left until their funding expires. They are probably going to hear about it in the news at this point.

Given that this is a program department, a department that deals with people, I am taken aback, to say the least, by the relatively callous, high-handed, apparently cavalier approach to these programs that get by on a shoe string, trying to do good work for those people in need, being treated in such a dismissive manner.

It defies belief for me that we would be doing that. They are the people we are here to represent. Can I ask the Minister if he can at least make some attempt to show some compassion here? I know they are not going to put any money in, but let us not sandbag these poor people.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we are facing some extreme difficulties financially. I think, as the Member well knows, as all Members know, we are working on seeing what we can do with regard to programs and contact. We will check with our regional offices and with our staff to see what kind of contact has been made and to touch base with the NGOs, and ensure they are well aware of the issue.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that, but given the difficulty and listening to his humane response, I would just like to get confirmation from the Minister that he would ensure that this is done starting tomorrow, so they are not getting called on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday after the axe has fallen and they are lying bruised and bleeding in the street because the money is gone. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will undertake to do that tomorrow.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Bell, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am just looking for the exact number of totals last year. I believe it was 500 and something, somewhere in that area. The contract would permit for a full amount of 75 employees, for 75 contracts. Mr. Chairman, that would be for the full summer for the amount of allocation we have right now.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Well, we know you are not letting these contracts for the full summer. We have already established that. So can the Minister tell me how many jobs this money will provide for? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. I would just like to remind the Members to address their comments to the chair, please. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I cannot answer the question in terms of the numbers of what this would pay for at this particular time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like some clarification on this. There is $150,000 in here, we do not know how many students this is going to provide for. I am just wondering if the Minister can get back to us before we conclude his department to let us know how many contracts he is proposing this $150,000 will buy us.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will not know how many until the actual contracts are written, until we know how many people will access the program.