Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've taken a number of steps to try to improve the level of communications between the department and communities. In one community, for instance, we've introduced a liaison program where we fund a community organization or an institution to work more closely with its clients so that we have some kind of rapport with the community. Hopefully that will reconcile some of the problems that are outstanding as of this date. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest complaints or concerns that we hear is a lack of contractors to do the work within the small, isolated communities, because you either can't bring them in or get the materials in within the time that's set. Could the Minister look at the possibility of ensuring that the contractors that are set with these people are for a two-year period, instead of just set with the year that it's set for? So you can know that you may not be able to acquire a contractor because of work at the regional centres or larger projects. So I'd like to ask the Minister is that something that you can look at; extending those contracts you have with the people that have met the mandate of the program for a longer period of time than strictly that one year?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the program delivery is fairly flexible. I don't see that being a serious problem at this point. We recognize there is a great demand for the construction industry to try to meet the ongoing demands. So certainly I'm prepared to discuss that with our officials and try to see if we can develop a strategic plan for the next fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Minister's statement today with regard to the Housing Corporation and its relationship with CMHC, they have these annual meetings and they get together and look at new programs and try to look at a cooperative arrangement to each side trying to find solutions to the problems. As part of the strategy for affordable housing, can the Minister also look at something in that strategy that deals with the problem of single parents and single mothers who find themselves in a situation of now being home owners, and that we have programs that are structured to that class of people? I would like to ask the Minister, would you consider as part of your strategy a scenario to assist single parents, especially single mothers with the housing needs that they may need through programs?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Both from an external and an internal perspective, we have been trying to address many of the questions that the Member raised today. Yes, we have shared with our CMHC colleagues, the reports of trying to find dual solutions to every problem and we will continue to do so. I am prepared to keep the Member apprised of our ongoing discussions as we work towards another agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about our graduation rates across the Territories. I'm not sure if he has the exact information at his disposal right now, but maybe he could give the House a general sense of the trend over the past three years of graduation rates. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do have the information and I have further information here, as well, which I could share with the Member after, Mr. Speaker. The trend has been fairly steady. There was a blip in 2001 where there was a substantial increase in graduation. Then all of a sudden, a back to normal level for 2002. Of course, that's the latest statistics we have, Mr. Speaker. But it looks like we're still on track with our graduation rates overall, except for that one year blip, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So has the Minister ascertained why we saw this blip, because we know that the population of 18 year olds was in fact lower for that year? So it seems amazing that we've got this jump. Can the Minister speak to that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we did do some initial checking and there was a higher than normal graduation rate in the South Slave, in Fort Smith and Hay River, I believe. That caused the blip, but it's back to normal. It's somewhat related to enrolment figures, as well, Mr. Speaker. I should mention that the graduation rates in smaller communities is increasing and for aboriginal students is increasing, while the graduation rate for non-aboriginal students is decreasing somewhat. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've spoken with a number of constituents who have raised concerns about what they see as a watering down of the academic requirements for graduation. Can the Minister let us know if in fact we have less than the academic requirements for graduation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, not to my knowledge, Mr. Speaker, it has not been watered down by any means and that's my current knowledge. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you. Maybe I should ask this. Would the Minister acknowledge that just because someone has graduated from our high school system now, we've gotten rid of this concept of matriculation, that that does not necessarily mean that they'll be qualified to enter university? They will not necessarily have the core courses necessary for going on to an academic program at a university. Isn't that correct? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.