Final supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the part that gives me great concern when we're adding fees to articles is I don't know whether there's any study done as to what articles are worthwhile seizing if there's going to be a fee charged to it and then a daily rental or storage fee if it's going to be there for two months. I would expect that with the amount of government property there is everywhere across the Territories, there must be a place that we can store this without accumulating daily fees. Why are we even bothering charging it if it's not going to bring in any money for who it's intended to benefit? Is that consideration given to use government properties in the communities rather than having it somewhere where there's a daily fee attached to it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would agree with Mr. Delorey that we should try and minimize any expenses in these sorts of situations and maximize the payments that would be going to affected individuals. I will certainly look into whether or not we can, in the future at least, find a way to use government properties for storage and I'll report back to the Member what my findings are. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. As I stated in my Member's statement, the Metis people aren't eligible for university and college entry programs. I realize the department is only delivering programs as directed by the federal government's policies, however, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment tell me whether the department has ever considered extending the university and college entry programs to Metis people? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can tell the Member that on more than one occasion during the 13th Assembly when I was Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, I sent letters to the federal government and asked the Ministers to reconsider their position on the university and college entrance program, which is offered only for treaty people. I have always been rebuffed in those approaches. I haven't tried it again since becoming Minister, but I am prepared to immediately write to the federal government and again see if they will reconsider their position.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. There are several constituents in the Sahtu region who have applied for programs and been turned down. What type of interim solutions can we provide to some of my constituents in the Sahtu region with regard to continuing on with their education and training for the upcoming opportunities that they see in the Sahtu? This government tells the people in the Sahtu that there is some way we can look at that issue in the interim. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to reinforce what the Member said in his statement. This is a federal program and we deliver it in the Northwest Territories only for the convenience of our residents to make sure that it's easier for people to get it, rather than having to write to someone farther away to get it. We don't set the terms and conditions. What the residents of the Sahtu will have is access to the same programs that residents have across the Northwest Territories, which in general are very supportive of education and training. If the Member has some specific issues, I would certainly welcome an opportunity to meet with him and see whether or not there are some programs that would meet this individual's needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. I will take you up on your offer to meet at a later date. As we know, sometimes we send information out to the federal government and some days it takes very long. Like the devolution issue. It takes a long time to get some answers from the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, the present student financial assistance program will provide assistance for 20 semesters of university. Would the Minister consider allowing Metis people to attend the university and college interest program through Aurora College under the overall eligibility? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to take a look at the terms and conditions under which the program is offered. As I said, it's a federal program. The federal government pays for the entire cost of the program and, therefore, they set the rules and conditions of who qualifies for it. We may not have the flexibility to allow for that, even if somebody was prepared to pay. But I can't say that for sure, so I'll look into it and get back to the Member.

Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister. I guess I would ask him if he would consider looking at some of the policies that he alluded to that may help the Metis people access other programs. Right now you have to go into low income support or to the ARDA programs and they get bounced around. So, Mr. Speaker, I would ask if the Minister could look at his programs again and look at some of the other programs within his department that would help alleviate some of this frustration that the Metis people are facing today in terms of getting their higher education and being a productive force for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's in all our interests to make sure anybody who is capable of getting a higher education in the Northwest Territories is given a hand to get that education. So the department is constantly reviewing the programs that are offered and looking at ways to improve them. I would say that as part of our regular reviews we will continue to do that and make sure our programs are offered in the best way possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week in a Member's statement I raised the issue of constituents of mine who have children who have been suspended from the public school system who are now at home with very little opportunity for education in the community. I didn't have a chance to follow up with questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, so I'd like to do that today. My question for the Minister is what education opportunities are available for these children who cannot be accommodated in the public school system? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, each individual situation is going to require a unique solution, so it is difficult to answer it in a general way. There are in every instance monies available for dealing with children who have special needs given to the divisional education councils, which in turn funds the district education authorities to provide the services. So the legislation in the Northwest Territories requires that the councils provide an appropriate level of education for all students, and that may take the provision of an individual's support in a classroom, or it may take some

discussion within the community of a different approach, which could involve any number of different facilities or situations. So I can't answer specifically that something is available. The best opportunity would be to see as much as possible the education provided within the school so that everybody is provided with an opportunity to attend school. Sometimes that isn't always possible, but that is the first choice. Thank you.