Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I attended a meeting with Mr. Collenette in Toronto, not Ottawa. It was specifically to see if we could raise issues with him as to special funding for the Northwest Territories portion of the National Highway Strategy Funding Program, and also to bring to his attention the Non-Renewable Resource Strategy, and hope to obtain his support in federal Cabinet for that specific proposal.

The Minister listened to our concerns and did give some indications as to what possibilities for different options for how this funding may be divided up among the provinces and territories, but he did say there are no decisions made and they will not be made until later in the year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the Minister was going to talk to the federal Minister about working out the formula so jurisdictions like ours will not be jeopardized for the money we have already budgeted for road construction.

Was he able to talk to him about that formula? Are there going to be any further meetings? Did he say "Sorry, no money. Goodbye.", or is there going to be another date? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister did not indicate there would be any future meetings or a need for future meetings. He just indicated that all the information put forward by the different provinces and territories would be taken into consideration, including the option of special funding for the Territories as being one area that does not have a completed national highway transportation system. He did not indicate which option would be preferred.

However, he did suggest they are prepared to put forward a proposal for further funding for this particular program to the tune of possibly $1.2 billion in the future.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, regarding the SFA issues that have been raised in this House today.

I would like clarification from the Minister. The Minister's budget will be coming up in the next day or so. Can I ask the Minister if he anticipates whether he will be able to answer these questions he has taken as notice during the course of the budget review? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did take Mr. Miltenberger's question as notice and I will have an answer for him on that. With regard to the other questions, I am working on it, and will continue to work on it this afternoon

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister is looking at the SFA issues and answers to questions raised, could he also prepare an answer for the reason why students are limited by choice of travel agent, in terms of booking their flights out to post-secondary institutions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of travel tickets was previously cumbersome. Part of the reason is that there is a requirement to have a confirmation of acceptance in the program from the university, then travel arrangements can be made.

I directed staff to contact the travel agencies and assess what procedures they need and see how the response time can be improved, so we could overcome some of these administrative difficulties. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister clarify whether students from regions outside of Yellowknife are entitled to use the travel agents from their regions, or do they have to go through travel agents in Yellowknife? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe they can use travel agencies in their region. I will double check that to make sure it is correct. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and is also about student financial assistance.

In applying for SFA in the new system, students are asked to justify certain expenses, and itemize these expenses. For instance, they are asked what their rent will be next year, although they are still here in Yellowknife and have not found lodgings for the upcoming semester, so they are not aware of what it might be.

They are also told that things like telephone calls and internet service do not qualify as expenses they are asked to itemize.

I am wondering if the Minister could talk about why students are asked to justify their expenses, when in fact justifying these expenses has no relation to the amount of money they receive? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the expense allowances that are provided are for food, shelter, travel, books and tuition. There is a need to ensure...administratively, it becomes very difficult. This is consistent with other student assistance programs elsewhere. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if that makes it good or bad, but I do not understand exactly why students are asked to break them down in the manner they are, and it does not seem to have any bearing on how much money they receive. Either they get the grants or they do not. It does not seem to matter whether or not they have $1,000 worth of rent or $200 worth or rent and $800 worth of hairspray.

Can he tell us what relation is made to expenses justified and the amount of money that students receive? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.