Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It had a little note on here that said you had the option of reading the written return. Those little yellow notes are hard to read.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Written Question asked by Mr. Bell on November 6, 2000, regarding employment opportunities for post-graduate students in the spring of 2001.

There are currently 135 students receiving student financial assistance, who we believe will be in a position to graduate from their programs in the spring of 2001. Although the department does not know the number of those students planning to return north, there are a number of initiatives underway to encourage students to return to the Northwest Territories.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has contacted all potential graduating students enrolled in teacher education programs and has provided contact numbers of education authorities in the Northwest Territories. There are also ongoing efforts by education authorities to recruit teachers currently living and working in the Northwest Territories as well as graduates of the Aurora College Teacher Education Program.

In January, Premier Stephen Kakfwi announced the government would guarantee jobs for northern graduates from recognized teaching and nursing programs. Term positions with the GNWT will also be provided for graduates in priority occupations. In addition, employment opportunities are listed through the student financial assistance newsletter and website. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.