Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there have been no formal requests for the department to reimburse boards for those monies so far. I think it's important to remember that there are only a few boards that actually charged fees. Most boards in the Northwest Territories did not charge any extra fees. We would be hard pressed to justify giving extra money to some and not to all.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand that those boards who were charging these fees have decided that they would not charge those fees to anyone at all, not just those who have been defined to be exempt. Does the Minister have any indication as to what the dollar figures were that school boards who were charging them were raising under this fee?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Chairman, I'm not aware. I think there were three boards in the Northwest Territories that were charging fees. I know that at the meeting with the board chairs that at least one of the chairs did mention a number, but I can't remember what that amount was; I'm sorry.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if the Minister could make a commitment to just look into that. I guess the schools will just have to raise the money in other ways and do more fundraising than they have done in the past. I think the money was usually used for school activities. If the Minister could make a commitment to get back to us with the figures, I would appreciate that. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Well, this isn't a number that the boards have ever reported to us. Like I say, most boards did not charge any extra fees, so it's not something that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment was ever involved in. We could write a letter requesting the amounts that they were getting, if the Member would like, and we can pass that on to her. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would now like to move a motion. The first one has to do with the reduction being proposed by the Minister on their early childhood development program.

Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment continue to provide base funding for its early childhood development program at 2003-2004 levels and program delivery parameters. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not going to say a lot on this one. I think a lot has been spoken in support of what we are trying to achieve through this motion. I think it's very clear from the debates this evening and early afternoon that there is strong support on this side of the floor to see that this very important program continues, and we would urge the government with this motion to find in their hearts and their passion and their commitment to find $1.2 million, please. I would ask for support for this motion from the Members. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll just be brief. As I see it, this program means a lot to the communities and to the culture of the communities. It seems like a shame that we would find money for three years through programs and transfers and then let the program dissolve in its own way and evaluate it after. It would only seem reasonable that evaluation would happen before we send it off into the sunset and say goodbye to this program. It seems alike a shame -- shame -- but I'd like to see that the government demonstrates some passion and leadership, which seems to be the theme today, by finding some money for this program. I'd like to ask for some compassion and consideration of those people who will feel the loss of this program. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

We're on page 7-19, education and culture, operations expense, total operations expense of $134.837 million. Mr. Ramsay.