Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if anybody heard my Member's statement today but I will take a chance and ask questions on it anyway.

Mr. Speaker, this government has devoted countless resources to the very worthwhile endeavour of literacy strategies for residents of the Northwest Territories. The Minister stated on February 23, 2001, with regard to literacy, "Literacy contributes directly to a higher quality of life for individuals. A key goal of this government's vision of educated Northerners making responsible personal choices for themselves and their families."

Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more. The agencies delivering literacy programming in our communities, our libraries, for example, need to be provided the resources to deliver programs to eradicate illiteracy. Would the Minister please indicate to this House if our libraries throughout the North have been provided with an increase in their budgets for 2001-2002 due to an increased emphasis on literacy in the North? 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. Mr. Speaker, the Literacy Strategy did, if I recall correctly, have a portion in it to provide and extend library services in the Northwest Territories so that all communities, I believe all communities in the Territories will receive library services.

As you know, we had the Gates Foundation gift of $350,000, in which we were able to extend virtual library services. In our Literacy Strategy, we are extending library services as well.

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

Mr. Speaker, as I alluded to earlier, the Hay River Library has occupied a building owned by the Department of Public Works for the past 30 years. This building is relatively old and has not had any significant maintenance or upgrades over this time. The ventilation, air quality and lighting systems need to be reviewed.

Would the Minister please indicate if he would be willing to work with the Minister of Public Works to carry out an energy audit and technical review of the Hay River Library building, as well as an analysis of the space needs of the library and the territorial library offices which are occupied in the same building? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, the issue of the Hay River Library was brought to our attention some time ago in our department. I have asked our department to look into this whole situation. There were some concerns with the funding process and formula for libraries. I do not have a problem with the request the Member is making and I appreciate him bringing that forward. I will work with the Minister of Public Works to see if we can put forward that suggestion. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the library's budget is stretched to the absolute maximum. The Hay River Library Board and their volunteers have to resort to holding yard sales, bake sales and other fundraisers in order to provide for their new equipment, furniture, children's programming and updating the library's music collection.

Would the Minister please indicate if he would be willing to visit the current formula for funding our libraries to allow for population-based funding for our libraries? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, there is no set funding formula for libraries and it is a problem within the act. I personally believe that the act does need updating. I think if we can have that opportunity to do that, then we can move forward on this whole issue. Thank you,

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the building that the Hay River Library occupies is unable to have air conditioning installed due to the age of the building. This creates a very unbearable situation for the patrons and staff of the library during the summer months. In the summer, the sun overheats the building, which is not ventilated. This is destroying the books as well as making the environment in the library unacceptable.

Could the Minister please state if his department would consider purchasing draperies for the Hay River Library windows in order to deal with this problem? 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. I really appreciate the comment the Member is making. As I said, I have the department working on this. I will personally go at some questions on the department as to where we are at with their comments on this. The Member's question does not seem out of line, his request does not seem out of line but I do not know what kind of cost may be faced in that so I do have to take that into consideration.

I will look at it and see what we can do in that end, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Speaker, an issue that I raised on a number of occasions during my previous term in this Assembly and I will do again here is in the area of education.

Mr. Speaker, when the Education Act quite a number of years ago was being relooked at, one area that was considered was local programming and how that would impact the different communities. One of the things that was occurring at one time in my constituency was religion classes in schools. I believe the act had basically said it cannot proceed. The people in my community were told it would be able to continue if it was considered a local program.

I would like to know from the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment that if in fact he would relook at that issue. I know it was pulled out of the schools and some pretty strict criteria was put in it. Seeing as this government has been dealing more liberally with residents of the Territory, I would like to know now if his department would relook at that issue and allow the community, if it so wanted, to once again provide for classes within the schools. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to look at the act and the regulations in regard to the School Act and the teaching of religion within schools. I cannot make a commitment that any change could take place, but the Member has requested I look at the act and I will look at the act. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Hopefully a little more than look at the act, that he would be able to come back and provide some formal response as to the opportunities that might be there. Thank you.

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

I am not sure I heard a question there, Mr. Speaker, but I certainly will look at the act and see. I need to interpret the act and become familiar with the details of it. Thank you.

Thank you. I think that is what the Chair heard as well. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.