Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our planning is done by community and in Yellowknife, the current utilization is at 80 percent on the overall basis. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Bell.

That may be the case, and I have no reason not to believe the Minister, but clearly we have to look more than just at a community. We could have situations where we have a high school operating at 150 percent and an elementary school operating at 50 percent. We cannot simply take high school students and jam them into an elementary school. So is there an acceptable utilization rate for a school? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is kind of like pulling teeth. What I am trying to get is a number from the Minister. It is my understanding from talking to people on the boards and in the department that 85 percent capacity is considered to be what we are shooting for, to have no more than that at a school. Can the Minister confirm this?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will ask Mr. Cleveland to address that.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Cleveland.

Thank you, Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Bell.

Mr. Chairman, God help us if it were growing at any more than a small amount because when I look at the numbers, St. Patrick's High School appears to be actual utilization at 136 percent, St. Joe's at 105 percent in the city.

There are other schools in the Territories. In Tuktoyaktuk, for example, I understand they are approaching maximum capacity. I think that we have to do some planning in this area, especially given the bright picture the Finance Minister paints for the Territory. If we are looking at growth, I think we have to start addressing this.

I would like to ask the Minister what he is planning to do, specifically about St. Joseph's and St. Patrick's High in Yellowknife. Is he looking at building new facilities?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We do monitor the situation and we do meet with the school boards on a regular basis. This issue would have to be addressed in conjunction with particular school boards, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Bell

Yes, I agree that it has to be addressed with the boards. I would like to ask the Minister if the department is not responsible to ensure that students are receiving education in an acceptable environment according to departmental standards. Clearly the department is responsible for setting the standards and the boards will follow their directions. Do they not have standards with regard to what an acceptable environment is? Classes in broom closets, I would think -- I do not have the standards in front of me -- is not acceptable. Can the Minister speak to this?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, I believe the Member is referring to an incident at a school which the school board was addressing and it is an issue that we keep on top of. We do work with the school boards in this whole area. When issues arise that do not meet our standards, then we bring it to their attention. It is the school boards that need to follow our rules and regulations. Mr. Chairman, it is our understanding that the school board in that particular case was addressing the issue.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Bell.

I will certainly discuss this issue further with the school board. I would like to switch gears a little bit here and ask about curriculum, specifically at the high school level. It is my understanding in our core subjects, math, sciences, English, social studies, we are delivering Alberta curriculum and have the same courses being taught throughout the Northwest Territories. So it does not matter if you are in Tsiigehtchic or in Yellowknife, you are still getting the same Math 30 course. Is this in fact the case?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Mr. Minister.