Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are probably about halfway through the consultation process right now in the Northwest Territories which is involving non-government organizations, including the Council for Persons with Disabilities. So it's too early for me to respond to Mr. Braden's direct question as to what change we are looking at to SFA. He will be aware, from my comments before the standing committee, that we are aware that this is an issue. We've heard about the issue of supports for persons with disabilities and income support from other people. So it is one of the areas that is being examined, but I don't have any specific actions yet or responses to report. I would hope that by the end of March, or the first week in April, that we will be in a situation to start to look at some of the various options. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sorry; did the Minister say the review process is about half completed, but there will be some feedback invited as early as this spring? I guess I am trying to get a sense of the major time frames, for instance, by which time this Assembly would be presented with some new policies or new options. Will there be some other opportunity for the public to see these and have a say in them, Mr. Chairman?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The public has an opportunity, or is being brought in through various meetings in communities right now, so that public comment is being invited. NGOs have been involved, very closely involved, in the whole development of the survey and the process for consultation. We are scheduled to meet with the standing committee the last week in March to report on where we are in this process and where it looks like we may be headed. We may also be surveying other jurisdictions to find out what is happening in other jurisdictions and see if they have some best practices that we might look to learn from. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Braden.

That's all. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I would like to highlight two issues. One is early childhood development, 2 of 9. Again, when we toured the community, this was one of the high profile discussions in the community, early childhood, and also the Head Start Program because it all falls under this new Early Learning and Child Care Agreement that's been in place with the Government of Canada. It says one-time money is available through ELCC trust fund through the Government of Canada. Is there a plan or strategy in place by the department of ECE to continue negotiating or meeting with government officials to continue the flowing of this important funding to the North, especially going out to the small, isolated communities where it's heavily depended on with respect to child development? Mahsi, Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a conference call scheduled with the Ministers from Nunavut and Yukon for later this week. We are hoping to discuss our strategy for approaching the federal government with a view to seeing whether or not the new federal government might be willing to continue on with the same sort of program that was under negotiation. At this point, we have no indication from the federal government that they are prepared to consider that; but we are going to see if we can't take a position that will support them moving forward with the same sort of program. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Chair. The second item that I would like to highlight is page 6 of 9 on the community-based education programs. As the Social Programs committee toured the communities last year in December, and also in the early fall, at that time when we were touring the communities, we heard over and over about the deliverance of community-based training programs. I was glad to see that there was additional funding of $240,000 budgeted for the pilot distance early access program. That's a long title. I am glad to see that in there. At the same time, if it's based on the 33 communities or however the funding structure is based, that will be approximately $7,000 for community. Certainly $7,000 will go far enough in a community. If we can highlight Behchoko, for example, there are 1,800 people living there and $7,000 is just a small chunk of change.

The Minister mentioned that the college board approved some direct funding to regional campuses in the communities. Does the funding, the $27 million approximately, Aurora College funding allocation, serve throughout the North? There has been ongoing discussion about the online programs the Minister highlighted earlier with various industries in the communities and also with various institutions from the South. I am sure there are partnerships out there that are willing to jump on board with this. Let's say Diavik, or BHP, or De Beers and the Mackenzie Valley pipeline; who knows, they may want to jump on board, as well. We are always striving for...Let's say there are some reports that went out: For a Better Tomorrow or Building on our Successes. I think the true focus should be on the community level.

I would like to highlight one area of Aurora College, the developmental fund, $430,000. They will be developing new programs to address specific GNWT priorities. I realize and I am aware that the School of Governance, through MACA, is delivering these similar programs. It could be a duplication, but I think the $430,000 should be committed on to the $240,000, so $670,000 that will be

geared towards the pilot distance learning access program. That's where the essential need is in the communities. I think the department really needs to focus in that area. Although the Aurora College has their own mandate and mission, but we've heard over and over in the communities that that should be the strive; to deliver more programs in the community, certification, diplomas, trades and various areas of interest in the communities.

We have three mining companies in our backyard, the gas pipeline is coming down the stream and we need to get ready. I guess I appreciated that $240,000 was allocated, but another $430,000 that has been highlighted should be geared towards the pilot project. Out of that, we will highlight for next year what we need to identify. If at the community level it's under $10,000, the community is going to struggle with that. Mahsi, Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think Mr. Lafferty has some good advice about seeking partnerships and we will certainly keep that in mind.

The intent of the $240,000 is not to provide this across the Territories. This is for pilot projects, so we will respond to community educators that come up with a plan. We will try it in some of our communities across the Territories and when we have some success to point to, that's what partners like to see. So we will be able to say look how well this is working, come and work with us and we will be able to do an even better job. My goal is to make sure that we've got the wrinkles worked out in this and then, if it is working, I will be seeking more funding to broaden programs across the communities in the Northwest Territories.

I just want to make it clear that this $240,000, we had never expected that it would be able to service all of the communities in the Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Chair. Again, I would like to reflect on the $430,000. If we can get the...I am not sure if the right word is direction, but because it's based on the development stages to meet the specific needs of government priorities, we are already doing that through MACA, through the governance program. I just wonder if the department can allocate that $430,000 to include it as a pilot project. It's different in the developmental area and also the pilot distance learning access program. There are different pots of funding, so if we can combine those two so we have a larger pot for our community to have easier access to have a pilot project in the community. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we have to be careful to remember that government priorities doesn't mean that we're training people to work in government. Government priorities include mine training, oil and gas training. So this is developmental training that's aimed at getting people ready for work. So I don't know that we'd want to necessarily retool that money this year for the pilot projects. I think we need to prove, through the pilot projects, that this is the right approach, and then we'll go after expanding the funding next year. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent, a comment?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I hear what Mr. Lafferty has to say. Thank you.