Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question is around the area of partnerships and working with organizations that are in place in a lot of communities and also how we are able to join forces with organizations who are presently administering federal dollars.
I am talking about organizations, such as the Gwich'in Tribal Council, which has an education and training program that they deliver different types of programs in regard to education training programs. They look at education training funds, scholarships, bursaries and also they offer a bunch of different type of services in regard to aboriginal human resource development strategy programs, labour market programs, child care funding, youth programs, and funding for disabled people. So they are doing a lot.
They have been able to do a lot in delivering different programs for the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit are doing similar things. I think it is important that we try to do more to coordinate what we are doing as a government and assist the different institutions that are out there.
One of the big problems that we have is just trying to attract people to administer or deliver programs today. I for one feel, especially with what is happening in the Beaufort Delta, we have a lot of training to do just to take advantage of the programs that are out there.
One of the biggest problems we seem to have is the whole area of not having enough money for students. It is usually first come, first served. Usually with the resources we do have, they are limited and a lot of times we are unable to assist as many students, through the programs. There are certain criteria that are set on how the scholarships or what not are going to be given out.
I would like to ask the Minister, especially in light of what is happening in the oil and gas industry and activity in the Mackenzie Delta, what is the department doing to coordinate core programs that we deliver through education and careers to work along with other funding sources that are out there, so we can coordinate our efforts and try to get the maximum benefit to the residents of the Northwest Territories? It does not matter who is delivering it. I would like to ask the Minister what steps have been taken to enhance that or assist these different agencies with carrying out similar responsibilities that we do in the area of department education?