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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not familiar with the reference the Member has made to the college program, that funding has been cut. That was news to me late today and I don't have the details to that. But with respect to funding programs, Mr. Speaker, we fund the college through a transfer payment of approximately $23 million and they handle the implementation of the programs that are conducted through the college system. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons they gave for the closure of this program is that funding was withdrawn by the sponsoring organizations, which were the Inuvialuit and the Gwich'in who contributed some $48,000 each. They're going to spend it elsewhere. I'd like to ask the Minister, is it possible for his department to consider or look for those resources which were given by the sponsor organizations to continue this program at the college in Inuvik?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to check into the situation that has transpired in Inuvik with this particular program, and I will need a day to do that, Mr. Speaker, before I can provide any response to the Member.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this program has already been established, it's been up and running, the curriculum has been developed, and I think it's important as a government that we do invest in our arts and crafts industry, especially in the North where we do have a very important segment of our population that depends on the sale of arts and crafts, as their income, especially in the smaller communities among the people who are on the promotion side of arts and crafts. I would like to ask the Minister if he would take a serious look at long-term funding for these types of programs so that their stability is ensured, that they don't simply find themselves running one year and then being closed down?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to look into this and see what we can do about the Member's comments and suggestions. I will have to naturally, as well, consult with the college board who have the responsibility for delivering programs and I will undertake to do that. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my earlier comments, I made reference that this government has spent quite a few dollars developing an arts and crafts strategy so that we can try to promote and enhance that industry. I would like to ask the Minister what's the status of this strategy which does have a fundamental impact on the arts and crafts industry in the Northwest Territories. Could the Minister give us an update of where that strategy is and what we're doing to implement it?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of RWED and I struck a panel to do an arts strategy for the Northwest Territories. That is under review by both our departments. We had anticipated having the government's response back by now. We expect it within a very, very short period of time, Mr. Speaker. Responsibility in the area of arts is shared by my department and Mr. Antoine's department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.