Mr. Nitah, your question is out of order. Item 7, oral questions. Mr. Bell.

---Ruled Out of Order

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the college board has identified in Yellowknife a number of critical areas of concern, one of which is housing. The others are parking space, classroom space and daycare access. So there are a number of areas that have been addressed by the board to me and those are areas that present some challenges because of our restricted finances, Mr. Speaker, at this point. I have not directly addressed the issue of housing in that context, in isolation of other areas because we have to address a number of areas that the board has asked me to look at. My initial look at this was a couple of weeks ago and I have not had an opportunity to address it as of yet.

Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the Minister speaks of restricted finances, I suppose he is primarily speaking about our capital needs and our capital finances, which I will also admit are very tight. I am wondering about operation expenditures. Clearly he was prepared in Inuvik to intervene and direct that we enter into a lease with an additional eight units if demand is warranted. Will he do the same in Yellowknife?

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, I haven't had the opportunity yet to address it, but I am interested in seeing what can be done to resolve this particular situation because I know that the number of attendees in our college system here in Yellowknife is quite substantial. The number of units they have available is very restricted. So I am interested in trying to address this situation. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I remember going back at least three years now there's been a wait list at that college for housing and there's been excess demand. I am aware of the past three years. Can the Minister indicate for how many years this has been a problem at this campus? He indicates he hasn't had time to deal with this right now, but this is a long-standing problem. How many years has this been a problem at this campus?

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Yellowknife Campus has had some challenges, Mr. Speaker, and that dates back to almost -- in my history -- 1995 when the college was located all over the city of Yellowknife in various buildings. The first priority was to get the classrooms together, get the college into one building and that has been achieved, Mr. Speaker. There needs to be a progressive approach to this. While I know that the history is there and the first need that had to be identified was appropriate classroom space. That has been addressed, Mr. Speaker, at the moment.

Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Yes, as the classroom need has arisen, we've gone out and arranged to get into leases around the city. But as far as college housing is concerned, we have a number of units at Northern United Place. Certainly we don't have all the units in Northern United Place. Maybe the Minister can indicate to me if we have access or have cued up for first dibs on rental apartments as they come vacant in Northern United Place. Do we have any means of getting hold of these units? Thank you.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are in the process or have just completed the renovations of another 12 units in that particular building that we had access to. I am not sure of the term of the building, but a lot of seniors and other individuals are in there and that is administered by an organization that we could contact to see as they get a block of apartments available if perhaps we can access those. As we know, housing in Yellowknife at the moment is extremely short so I am not sure of the availability of those particular units that they may wish to give up to the college. Thank you.

Time for question period is over. Colleagues, at this time, I would like to direct your attention to the visitors' gallery and the presence of the NWT Metis Association representatives, executive, board of directors, committee reps and their staff. I would like to welcome you to the Legislative Assembly. Welcome.

---Applause

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to get unanimous consent to return to item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

The Minister is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. You have unanimous consent. Continue, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to introduce some individuals who are in the gallery today. Dr. Paul Byrne is the chair of the Meet the North Conference in Edmonton, as well as the vice-chair of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and president of Grant McEwan Community College. As well as Keith Persaud, manager of special events of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, and Bernie Hughes of our government, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

I would like to welcome you to the NWT and welcome you to the House. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Nitah.

Welcome to the House. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, as well, would like to recognize some of the members of the NWT Metis Nation: President Rob Tordiff; some board members that I can see are Ken Hudson; Betty Villebrun; George Kurszewski, the esteemed negotiator; Jason Lepine; Mrs. Wright. I am not sure who I am missing back here. All the ones from Fort Smith I would like to welcome to the House and to the announcement today.

---Applause