Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister inform us as to why there were only two districts that took part in those exams? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Yes, it is a choice of the school districts to decide where they take their exams from. Other districts are looking to also include themselves in the Canadian Achievement. Some are taking Canadian Achievement tests now versus the Alberta exams, and while the Alberta exam was in two districts, the Canadian Achievement tests were in some other districts, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister inform us as to what steps he will be taking because of the low results that were brought back from these equivalency exams, especially in grade 9 math? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When something like this is brought to our attention, naturally we are very concerned about the results. It clearly is of concern when the results are there. However, we have to remember the circumstances under which those exams were held and compare them in an appropriate fashion. I did deal with this issue with my officials to see why this may have occurred. Certainly in the case of YK 1, the students that took this particular math test have only been taking that particular math program for three years and it was not an indicator like the Alberta students, who have been on the program perhaps for many more years.

Also, it is an Alberta achievement test and there are a number of considerations that have to be made. Alberta students are ranked amongst the highest in Canada. As a matter of fact, they are very high internationally. Also, it did not take into consideration some of the northern learning that takes place here in the Northwest Territories that are not part of the exam, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Highway No. 3 has the highest category of maintenance priority.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is well aware of the priorities of this government in regard to the state of Highway No. 3 versus Highway No. 4. Our maintenance crews are well aware of the status of the priorities as well. As a result, we do direct our efforts towards Highway No. 3 on a priority basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I can make that information available to the Member.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today goes to the Honourable Joe Handley in his capacity as the Minister responsible for the Liquor Commission. Mr. Speaker, as you might be aware, there has been a call for contracts out for liquor store outlets in the City of Yellowknife but there has not been any announcement as to who might have won those contracts. I am not asking any substantive question, but I have had inquiries from constituents as to when the commission may make an announcement as to who the contracts would go to. I wonder if the Minister could indicate to this House as to whether he is aware of when that might be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The contract was tendered and closed, I think, on September 7th. Since that time, the liquor board and the department have been doing a review and analysis of the many proposals they received. There are two factors that have to be considered. One is the relative cost of each proposal and also the total cost of what would be even the lowest one to Yellowknife consumers. I am meeting tomorrow with the representatives of the liquor board and the Department of Finance. After that, we will be able to indicate how soon we will be able to award the contract. Thank you.