Mr. Chairman, what are the trends here? Should we be looking at augmenting this $3,500 in the relatively near future? Are we keeping watch on this? Are we keeping tabs on it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Very shortly after I became Minister I raised this issue with the department and asked that they do some work to take a look at what trends were across Canada. I, too, had heard from people that our system appeared to be falling behind in some areas. So it is something that we're watching. We're looking for opportunities that we may have to restructure the program somewhat to try and make it more relevant, more useful. That is, of course, a challenge when we have the fiscal climate that we have. But, yes, it is something that hasn't fallen off the radar, it is something that we're looking at, and I'd certainly be prepared to provide a presentation to the standing committee. In fairly short order we should be ready with the work that I've asked to have done.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Braden.

Thank you. In this area and coming from some of the very diligent questioning that Ms. Lee has been putting Ministers to in the area of other expenses, the Minister mentioned under student financial assistance about $4 million for loan write-offs, I believe was the term used. Could the Minister describe what is meant by the term "write-offs?" Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Braden.

Another area of general interest under this area, Mr. Chairman, in advanced education and careers, is the need for us to somehow provide assistance to new Canadians in the area of English as a second language instruction. Can the Minister advise does the GNWT make this kind of training available through any of our institutions or perhaps indirectly through NGOs? What are we doing to help out new Canadians who need that kind of literacy help? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our government doesn't actually spend any money on delivering that kind of program. The programs are available through Aurora College, and the federal government contracts with Aurora College for the delivery

of those programs. So the programs are available, but they're paid for by the federal government.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Braden.

Okay, thank you. I will ask the question whether you have any ability to know is the need being satisfied through the federal programs? Are we providing enough programs and enough access to satisfy the need? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, it hasn't been raised as an issue with us. We do talk to the federal government on a fairly regular basis. The college hasn't alerted us that there is a bigger demand than what can be satisfied through what's being delivered. So to the best of our knowledge right now, the demand must be being met.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Braden. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to ask the Minister about the career and technical centre project in Yellowknife. I think a lot of Members here have spoken about the need for resources for training of our young people so they could take advantage of economic opportunities that are happening around us. I know that the government has transferred the land on which the centre is built, but I don't believe there has been any resources to either help with the project or in terms of any commitment to any programs that could be held there that would go toward paying for the project. Also, we are already aware of the fact that some of the major industries and companies, such as De Beers, have made some significant financial contributions towards this project. The people involved with this project are working really hard to raise money from outside of the government, and they have been quite successful to a certain extent. I think we will know more about the extent of that when the centre has the official opening come next Friday. But I know that this project is in desperate need of some assistance from the government, and I do believe this is in line with everything the Department of Education, Culture and Employment stands for. So I would like to ask the Minister as to whether or not he has given any thought to this project, and a commit from the Minister that he would look within the budget to see whether this project could qualify for any funding from his department. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I mentioned to Mr. Delorey earlier, this sort of program I think is on everybody's radar right now. It is an extremely important type of program, but, unfortunately, we haven't identified any money to add into the formula for schools. So the schools are going to have to look for opportunities to partner up. I know, for instance, the Yellowknife Catholic Schools have gotten some short-term contracts with Aurora College for the use of the facility. They did make it available, as I said earlier, to the Dogrib Community Services Board for some of their students to take advantage of over the spring break. But at this point, the schools would have to choose to reallocate funding from within the formula if they wanted to support this kind of programming. All the money that we have that we can provide the schools is going to schools, and we haven't been able to increase that funding. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Am I to understand that that's that and there's no point for these project people to come and ask for any kind of assistance from the government?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would hope that we are at some point going to be able to take a look at this important type of programming throughout the territory. But in the budget that you have before you there is no extra funding to accommodate trades training in schools.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.