Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of training has been discussed with the chief coroner. What we will endeavour to do is to work with the chief coroner and make sure that a training session can be offered for the community coroners in the course of the next year, just as we've done this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for Minister Dent in his responsibility as the Minister responsible for day care programs. I've asked a lot of questions in the past pre-federal budget about the details of this National Childcare Program and the Minister was waiting to see what was going to be included in the budget. So in light of the budget having been delivered, could the Minister report to the House as to what that means for us in the Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now it's a bit of a good news/bad news situation. The good news is that the federal government did commit $5 billion to early learning and childcare. The bad news is that they only committed the first year on a per capita basis. That's $700 million across Canada. So that means to us a very small portion of money and it's going to be a challenge for us to live up to the expectations of the public, given the expectations set by the federal government. We're going to have to examine whether or not it's intended that this agreement be on a per capita basis through its life. If it is, then there will be some discussion between the three territories about whether or not this national vision stops at the 60th parallel. Because if the national vision of Canada stops at the 60th parallel, we may not be in a position to sign onto this deal. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding was that it was already suggested that the funding was on a per capita basis, but perhaps there is room yet to negotiate and decide. If that's the case, could the Minister indicate what he's doing to advance our territory's position to make a difference in this formula? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're hanging our hopes on the wording of the detail to the budget, which says that for the first year and until the framework is signed off that the funding will be distributed on a per capita basis. We are going to keep after the federal government to find out if that means in years two, three, four and five that the funding formula could be different. I was supposed to have a conversation with Minister Dryden yesterday but, unfortunately, we didn't connect. My staff are working at setting up another conversation where we can follow through on that. Our deputies have spoken in the past week by phone and we think that we have some support for a base funding plus per capita distribution in most jurisdictions, but Ontario remains totally opposed to that. So we are going to keep pushing the issue with the federal government and with our partners across Canada. As I said, we will decide in discussion with our territorial colleagues whether or not this really is a deal that we can sign onto. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it sounds like there are lots and lots of details to this deal that still need to be worked out. I understand that the Minister has been working on a draft memorandum of understanding or some kind of agreement between all of the Ministers. Could I ask the Minister about the time frame of this? Now that the budget has been delivered, are we to expect details to be worked out within the next two weeks or three weeks and whether or not the funding formula is the only point of dispute at this stage? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the Northwest Territories, the funding formula is the area of contention. The other areas we are satisfied with. There are provinces that have some difficulty with some of the issues, but, by and large, we can live with the agreement the way it is structured now. But we are not satisfied at all with the funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate more about the path for the NWT or the jurisdictions north of 60 who are not happy? For the governments in the North who are not happy with what is happening, what are we to do? What is the Minister planning on doing, other than talking to Mr. Dryden? Are there any other things planned to make sure that we get our bigger share of the announcement? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member has pointed out, yes, I'm going to follow up quite aggressively with the federal Minister. The three territorial Ministers talk on a regular basis about strategy. We have all agreed that our Premiers need to discuss this issue and it's on the agenda for the Premiers' meeting next month. I have spoken to Premier Handley about perhaps taking this issue to the Prime Minister, because I think that it's something that if we can't get passed it, there's a real problem with expectation. The people of Canada expect that we're going to be able to have a similar sort of situation all across Canada when it comes to early

learning and childcare, but if our funding is only based on per capita, then the North isn't participating on an equitable basis.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of RWED. I'd like to ask the Minister if he agrees that the Beaufort-Delta is the anchor field for the oil and gas industry. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of the Mackenzie gas project, there are three fields that we refer to as anchor fields that really have justified the project in the eyes of producers: Parsons Lake, Niglintgak, and Taglu. But I think what you'll see, and we're starting to see this now in the Sahtu region, a lot of exploration and some potential development on the horizon. We have other oil and gas exploration and development and gas flowing south of 60 from the Cameron Hills. So there are other pockets of activity. Our expectation is that once this pipeline, this conduit to market is built, we'll see exploration all up and down the valley. Right now in terms of the known quantity, not taking into account potential offshore, the three anchor fields in the Member's riding are what's really underpinning the economics of this project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

I'll thank the Minister for that and if he thinks that the Beaufort-Delta is the anchor field for now, then why is there not an oil and gas division office located there? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Bell.