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

Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me say that I am quite pleased that we have been able to move the amount of money dedicated to inclusive schooling from 12 percent up to 15 percent for this coming year.

Mr. Speaker, as well, it is very difficult to compare jurisdictions because we include different ways of funding our schools, different other kinds of support programs. I do not want to say that 15 percent is adequate in all cases, but I would say that it is a big improvement over what was the case when this government took office. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would agree with the Minister that we have improved the situation, but not enough. Mr. Speaker, for years, boards have asked that we identify funding according to the challenge that a child faces. This is a common approach across Canada. Will the Minister bring in a policy to do that now in the Northwest Territories?

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

Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, we fund our schools largely through a formula that is based on the pupil/teacher ratios, as well as extra money for things like inclusive schooling. Right now, the policy of the department is to give the boards the flexibility to be able to move a lot of the grant money we give them to serve their purposes. I think for us to set a policy, as the Member refers to, right across the department would in many ways be taking back some of the authority we have given to the boards and some of the flexibility they currently have. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, then let's be sure we are doing it the right way. Will the Minister agree to meet with the chairs of the education councils and authorities to discuss the manner in which funding for special needs is identified in the funding formula? Thank you.

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

Yes, Mr. Speaker, certainly I would be willing to meet with the chairs of any of the boards who want to meet with me as soon as we have time and to discuss, not just our inclusive schooling, but all of our funding for schools and hear any of the concerns they might have. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister take it upon himself to ensure better access to professional assessment in our schools within the next year?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to meet with the boards and discuss what services they currently provide, what is available from Health and Social Services and how they might suggest we improve the services.

I think one of the challenges we face as a territory is that some regions, some communities, do not have the same access as do others. We would have to look at how we can ensure that everybody has fair access. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that particular issue is part of the work that is being done with the combined Addictions and Mental Health and Family Violence Strategy. The addictions component I have on my desk. The mental health strategy is still in the development stage.

I am aware of the Member's concern. I will be going to his communities in August. It is also an issue I want to speak to as we look at the socio-economic impact of major resource development, because I know it has been identified in his communities by some of the leaders as an issue. Thank you

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is one of the key areas that has been identified in regard to the Health and Social Services System Action Plan for 2002-2005. I think it is crucial that we act on some of these recommendations. I would like to ask the Minister, how soon can you act in regard to trying to find the resources to bring these people in line with our other professionals?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the first step is going to be to conclude the part of the strategy, the mental health component of that strategy, which I just referred to, the Alcohol and Drug and Mental Health and Family Violence Strategy. We are going to have to quantify the amount of money we are going to acquire to address that particular priority. We are going to have to put it on our list and we are going to have to go back through committees and then back to Cabinet. Hopefully by the fall, we will have a very clear idea as to how we can proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that our mental health workers in our communities would like an answer to see exactly what the direction of this government is and how soon can they see fruition to finding solutions to these problems. I would like to ask the Minister again, do you have any idea how we are going to be able to see it within the next six months? Or are we talking about a year? How soon can we see this change take place?