Thank you, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was for systems development cost that is now reported in another fashion.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The systems development cost, is that associated with the Ardicom contract to put computer systems and hookups in all the schools in the territories, when you talk about system expenses? Could you elaborate a little more on that?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, it is not. It is associated with student records and a whole range of operational matters.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. The Chair recognizes Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also have some concerns about the DCN, and how the department ties its programs in with what appears to be a flawed setup. I guess intentions were there at the beginning, and it did seem to make a lot of sense, but I do not think we are getting the performance out of the system that we had hoped we would.

Mr. Ootes indicated that we certainly had to look at the performance of the system as we go forward and continue to review to see if we are getting value for money, but by all indications, he has also indicated that right now there are speed issues, and bandwidth issues.

I think there are concerns that there have been incorrect setup of sessions over the DCN. I guess the setup would be by NorthwesTel. There have been connection problems, been problems with image quality, and I think the department has taken these concerns to NorthwesTel and received some assurance from Ardicom that remedial action will be taken to fix these problems, but I do not think there has been any action taken.

I am wondering what the department is doing to insist that Ardicom fix the problems. It is one thing for the department to have these intentions to upgrade the programs they are delivering internally, but if the system is flawed, it is pretty much out of their hands. So I am wondering what they are doing to work with Ardicom to ensure that Ardicom actually does something about this.

Thank you, Mr. Bell, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I mentioned, we are watching the concerns about bandwidth and speed, but we do not manage the system. That is done for us by the Financial Management Board Secretariat, and management board services. We deal with them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Bell.

Surely as an anchor tenant and one of the key users of this service, you have to be concerned when it appears that groups like the Power Corporation are choosing to opt out of this DCN and instead go out and create their own infrastructure, and jump off this sinking ship, as I see it. Does it not make sense for the department to bring their concerns up with the Financial Management Board Secretariat and insist that this thing be fixed?

Thank you, Mr. Bell, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I should state that at the moment we are using the system fairly effectively. I mentioned that we are watching the potential problems with bandwidth and speed and so forth. We will continue to do that, and we will certainly pay close attention because it is a system we rely on very heavily for services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes, Mr. Bell.

Thank you. The Minister has indicated that there are speed and bandwidth issues and they are aware of them and presumably have brought them up with the Financial Management Board Secretariat and with Ardicom. I am wondering what Ardicom is proposing to do to alleviate some of these concerns.

Thank you, Mr. Bell, Mr. Ootes.

I will ask Mr. Cleveland to address this.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland, Mr. Bell.

This may be a technical question, but maybe Mr. Cleveland can answer this. It is my understanding that there have been problems with image quality over the DCN, which I assume would affect delivery of educational programming and in some more technical areas.

Given that the department is proposing to hook up with one of the Calgary school boards and deliver programs in the smaller communities, I am wondering if these image quality problems are directly related to bandwidth and if that is something that will hinder the delivery of programs?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. It might be better for the Members to address DCN issues when we are in committee of the whole with the Financial Management Board Secretariat because they are the lead department for that. Mr. Bell.