Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The reason I raise this is because from looking at the budget, when you talk about adult basic education, literacy, they have $257,000 in the budget for that particular item. It has come down from 1998-99.

I feel that in order to deal with the problem we have and in order for us as a government to give people the tools they need to be very productive in their lives and to get somewhere in their lives...we know the facts. People do not have a high education. The percentages are there. The people who do have grade 12 or go on to university, their chances of getting a job are that much greater.

Yet in order for us to get out of that rut, we have to do more to increase those percentages, especially in our smaller communities where the problems seem to be. I would like to ask the Minister, are there any plans in place to increase the amount of money for adult basic education and literacy?