Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I realize the Minister has to get the advice from the experts in program services, but what about the experts in the parents' advisory group? What about the parents who come and talk to us all the time about how the number of students per teacher is not diminishing, in spite of the fact that we keep repeating to them that we have been approving extra money.

I know for a fact the Minister just received a letter recently from the N.J. MacPherson School Parents Advisory Group. The response the Minister gave was copied to every parents advisory group. He reiterated the formula.

My point is that, I do not want to be rude about it, but I really do not care how we compare to the national average or what the experts in the department are saying. I really do not think that matters. I do not really care that it is up to the local boards to do it. I really think that we are responsible for how our money is being spent and how the money we are giving is translated in the classroom.

I am sure the Minister has statistics that show the classroom has decreased, but I tell you, I was at a parents advisory group meeting about three weeks ago and my information is that the problem is as bad and as serious as ever. I really believe that unless we open up this PTR and revisit it and include some of the positions that we are not funding, such as a librarian position. How could you not fund that? How could you have a school without a librarian?

Let me just repeat that. I do not think there should be a school without a librarian. I think that should be a necessary, funded position. School boards have to make a choice about whether they should have a physical education specialist position. Those are important.

I know the Minister has done a lot to give extra money, but can we not stop saying that we are doing the best we can and it is up to the school boards? The bottom line is every single school in Yellowknife is overcrowded -- every school.

I do not know. I have to be able to give the parents a better answer than say it is not our responsibility, it is the school boards'. The school boards will say they are doing the best with the money they have. I have no reason not to believe that, but how does that answer about what the reality is in the school classroom? I think that is the most important issue here.