Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have had discussions with Minister McLellan before she moved from her portfolio, with Minister Pettigrew, about the possibility of moving those people from the northern secretariat who administer programs in the health area on behalf of the people in the Northwest Territories to the North. At this point they are only discussions, but the intent across the board is as we look at devolution in talking with DIAND and in talking with Health Canada is to have those services and programs that are administered by federal civil servants as close to the people they serve as possible, which would mean to the North. So, yes, there have been discussions. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's good to hear that there are discussions happening. I would like to ask the Minister a more specific question in terms of what guidelines this government may look at in terms of having these services moved to the Northwest Territories. It's a crying shame that in today's day and age that is operating out of Ottawa, whereas the Government of the Northwest Territories is looking at becoming more administrative as a territory. I would like to ask the Minister of some timelines that we could possibly see some actions where these

services would be transferred to the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this issue has been on the government agenda for many years. In fact, my recollection is the federal government itself did a review of the positions that could be moved north and there were a substantial number, but the federal government decided not to move on that, the main rationale being that the public didn't really want to move out of Ottawa and other southern jurisdictions where they currently did their business. It's not an option that was given in '67 when they moved the capital north, but it was the one that the federal government used.

Mr. Speaker, this is going to be an ongoing issue as we discuss this. There are no set timelines. It's on the table as an ongoing part of discussions with the federal government. I know on the health side we also want to look at the supplementary health benefits and exactly how non-insured health benefits are provided. Is the vehicle of the federal government the best way to do it? We are now a program administrator. Should there be discussions through this supplementary health review to in fact look at a possible different arrangement which would see that program fully taken over by the territorial government, is one possible suggestion. There are a number of options out there that are going to require our attention over the coming months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the delicate discussions happening with Health Canada in terms of the northern secretariat being moved to the Northwest Territories. I would like to see this government take some leadership of some of the positions of some people who do not want to be moved to the Northwest Territories. We have enough qualified people in the Northwest Territories to take on those positions. Once and for all we should be able to say, if it's part of the discussions, that we have qualified people in the Northwest Territories. It requires some delicate negotiations, however, I think this government needs to take a stand in saying that we have people here ready to take over those positions if people in Ottawa do not want to move. I would like to ask the Minister if he would look at this strategy in terms of having some commitment to having this office moved here and not having the negotiations held up because a few people in Ottawa do not want to move to the great white Northwest Territories.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories, like the other 12 provincial jurisdictions will all be getting their lists ready for post-June 28th when we know who in fact the government in the land will be at the federal level. So I can assure the Member that the issue he has raised in this House is one that is on our list and we will be moving on that when we, once again, know who the government of the day will be at the federal level. Thank you.

Colleagues, I would like to direct your attention to the presence in the visitors' gallery of a Grade 5 class from St. Joseph's School and their teacher, Ms. Chiasson. I would like to welcome you to the Legislative Assembly. I know you received a little tour of the House, and I would like to welcome you back. So welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho. My questions are directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Given that the government's strategic plan calls for implementation of school programs that support indigenous language and culture, does the government's strategic plan include measures for the training and professional development of qualified aboriginal language instructors to teach these school programs?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the strategic plan may not specifically mention that sort of program, but it is certainly one of the basic tenants of the teacher education program and one of the reasons for offering the program right through to the baccalaureate or bachelor degree stage in the Northwest Territories. We are anxious to see more teachers who are born in the Northwest Territories and conversant in the language of their community who have been able to go through the process and become fully qualified teachers with a B.Ed. to work in the North. That's one way in which we are strongly continuing this. While it may not be mentioned in the strategic plan, it is certainly something that has been in the business plans of Education, Culture and Employment, so it is an ongoing process that we continue to support.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker, does the government and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have plans to provide bursaries and

scholarships to encourage teachers to develop aboriginal language teaching skills at the college level?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the college has an aboriginal language and culture instructor program which is designed to prepare aboriginal language teachers to deliver aboriginal programming in NWT schools. This is a program that is offered on top of the teacher education program and it can be supported through the student financial assistance program, which also offers access to scholarships, as well. We find that many employers are prepared to support their employees to access this kind of program, as well. So the answer is yes, we make this programming available to assist teachers to become better qualified, and we do support it financially. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps the Minister could clarify for me again that the government does provide bursaries and scholarships to encourage more aboriginal language professionals with teaching skills and just to develop the capacities that I know are lacking in the regions and the communities. If the Minister can provide that answer for me. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We don't have a program of scholarships and bursaries that are specifically limited to teachers who want to take this kind of upgrading or training. There is, however, a fairly large pot of money, which is part of the collective agreement with the NWTTA, that is available for teachers for upgrading purposes. What has been found to work best with courses like the aboriginal language and culture programming is part-time delivery in the regions, so that it can be delivered close to the workplace. Often this kind of upgrading doesn't require a huge investment of time or money on the part of the teacher. But if the teacher were to sign up for a full-time instruction course and were to take time off to do it, they would qualify for support. If they have gone to school in the Northwest Territories, they would qualify for student financial assistance if they weren't able to access the professional development funding that is part of the collective agreement. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one further point on that is I was saying language and culture are very important to our government. Is the department looking at providing incentives and bursaries or a new initiative to reach out to our teachers to say, look, this is important to us, here are additional bursaries and scholarships that are available to you, rather that to just access the current pool but to create a larger pool of aboriginal language instructors for the North and our students? Mahsi cho.