Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for Health, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services does not deal directly with literacy challenges. That falls under the mandate of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. However, we are more than happy and prepared to work with Education, Culture and Employment in finding ways of communicating with constituents on health promotion issues, perhaps in other ways than through the written word if that helps to get our message out. Certainly, the mandate for literacy is with Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for Health, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I could not stand here and tell the Members here that in terms of our brochures and public information campaigns that we have arrived, but we do try to examine information that we know is going to constituents to make sure that it is in lay-persons terms so that the average person could understand it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for Health, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any policy regarding production of materials in our department, but I do take the Member's comment and suggestion under advisement. I do believe it is a good suggestion. Thank you.

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

Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The directive does not identify any specific language, Mr. Speaker. It is a directive that addresses the various areas such as definitions of what literacy is and what adult basic education is. It provides some purposes and principles, the accessibility and where the literacy is delivered, and by whom. The Member has a very good point. We have to remember we are also working on a policy for aboriginal languages. I think it is important for us to tie them together, and that I believe is what the Member is saying. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the assessment by the Minister was correct. He identified the fact that I was making a link, or trying to make a link between the aboriginal languages and literacy. However, he did not say whether his department and the directive would in fact make that link with the strategy. Could he indicate whether it will or not? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is some work to be done on the directive. There is also work to be done on the Aboriginal Language Policy. From there we are developing a broad policy on literacy and adult basic education. The three have to meld together at some point, Mr. Speaker.

We are talking about a timeframe problem here, because they have to fit in the Adult Literacy and Basic Education Policy, which is nearing completion. It will ensure that it takes into consideration aboriginal languages as well as the other official language. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in another area related to the directive, could the Minister indicate who he has consulted with outside of government? What groups and individuals in regard to the development of this directive to ensure it has as much broad, public input as possible to make it as relevant and accurate and reflective of the realities of people working out in the communities? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure as to who has been consulted on this. I would have to get back to the Member on that. I do not have that information now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.