Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The intention was to deliver it in the smaller communities where there is no adult educator.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In terms of a commitment to adult literacy, the department has funded workplace literacy programs in the past. I am hoping we will see these as we go through the budget, and that there is a continued thrust in that area.

One thing that has not been addressed is a commitment to family literacy. Does the Minister have within the department any funding that can be identified as tying into family literacy? Or can some of his Skills for Work money be targeted in that area? Would programs that featured family literacy as part of their thrust be considered in the Skills for Work program?

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The intention was that the money would be for the Community Skills for Work, but part of this with the NGOs is to look at proposals from NGOs and they would be administered from the regional level. In there, there could be consideration for family literacy programs.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I welcome that commitment that family literacy will indeed have a place in the Skills for Work programs that are considered.

I think Mr. Miltenberger mentioned this government needs to move towards having a broader literacy strategy. He responded to a question that you asked, Mr. Chairman, last Friday in the House about literacy. He responded saying that the department has been considering a directive on adult basic education and literacy. I would like to ask the Minister if there has been any consultation with groups like the literacy council on the directive that is under consideration? Will this directive in fact tie a government-wide initiative together?

The Minister responsible for Education, Culture, & Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, the literacy council was consulted on this. Although it provides a broad approach, it can be considered as applicable across the territory.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask when the consultation took place? I understand this directive has been in the works for in excess of ten years. It has been under development for a long time. Has the consultation been very recent? Will the Minister commit, before moving ahead with it, to ensure that there is some discussion, not only with the literacy council, but also with practitioners in the field?

I mean, in particular, practitioners who are working in the smaller communities, typically the NGOs, so that we are actually making sure the directive is tied to the real world, and not necessarily just to what people in academia might think is the right way to do it.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We can certainly consider circulating the draft. I am informed that there has been consultation with practitioners and NGOs. Thank you.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the committee would be interested in knowing, at least I would, when these consultations took place and with whom they took place? I would ask that be provided at a later date. I do not expect they would have that information with them today.

I have one other question about this program. Is it now in the base funding? Or is this a one year program? Will we have to go through this again next year? We had hoped to see a million dollars. $650,000 is certainly better than the nothing that was there initially when the budget was brought forward. Is this just a short-term solution, or will the $650,000 be in the department's base? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if we could confirm with the Member tomorrow.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I hope that we will be able to have that information before we conclude the department's budget. I look forward to receiving that.

I would like to talk now about northern teachers. One of the things that Mr. Nerysoo started when he was Minister of Education was he set a target for a number of northern teachers we would have by the year of 2000. I believe that he had set a target of 50 percent. I know we did not achieve that target in the North.

The government of the day committed to renew the attempt to reach that level, I believe it was by the year 2003. I would like to ask the Minister will he again commit and ensure that the department puts the resources necessary into the program to make sure that by 2003, or at the latest 2004, that we achieve the level that was set many years ago? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The target was set, I cannot recall the year, but it was 50 percent by the year 2000. I am not familiar with the fact that it was renewed. I see the former Minister set that target, so it was set as a target for 2003. Now, the question before me is can it be achieved?

I am not sure what changes took place in the last several years. I cannot commit at this time to be able to achieve that target by that particular date. There is certainly an emphasis within all areas of the system to ensure that people are able to go to the college system.

The Teacher Education Program that we have in place is starting to see increased enrollments. For example, here in Yellowknife at this time last year, the number of applicants was 24. This year it is 40. There is an increasing interest in the area of education. There is a promotion program that was initiated by us some time ago, and I think that is starting to have results. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. I have Mr. Nitah on the list. Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Mr. Ootes, would you care to respond to that?