Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is just to start the program planning for the project. There will be significantly more money in subsequent years. But as you can see, we only see in this line here, the last year we see is 2006-07; 2007-08 doesn't show in this budget, so we don't show the whole amount on this page.

Thank you, Minister Dent. Ms. Lee.

Mr. Chair, I want to ask the Minister just one more time about the facilities that review committee because this St. Joseph renovation is allocated for many more dollars and there still remain outstanding issues in the city about what to do about our school infrastructure needs. I don't think I got the answer from the Minister as to exactly what he is trying to get at with this ongoing committee and where he has appointed the chair. What we got is we have one board who has spacing needs. They will get money for renovation but there is still spacing requirements. We have another board with old schools but they have more spaces. The Minister knows as much as there is to know about what the issues are. It is time that somebody here gets on it and tries to figure out what to do and not leave it out there for everybody to get frustrated. I fail to see where the purpose of this exercise is. What is he trying to get at? I would like to give the Minister another chance to explain that because it is important. It is an ongoing issue there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have elected boards in the community. They have the primary responsibility for making decisions about education. I think we have to respect that they have to be involved in the decision-making process. It sounds to me like Ms. Lee is recommending that I make a decision to do something unilaterally. I guess I would be interested in her advice as to what that should be. I would like to hear that from the other MLAs, as well. I would point out that the report that I received clearly states in it that, given the

situation in Yellowknife, redistribution of students among available space is required. To address the imbalance, the space either...and then three options are offered. Either space has to be shared between the two boards, or space has to be transferred from YK 1 to YCS, or YCS has to enforce priority enrolment to maintain their enrolment within their school capacity. What am I expecting? I expect that those are the issues that this committee will engage on. That is what I am looking for. Does it mean that we can't move things around in the capital plan? Of course, that is possible. We have to make moves in the capital plan all the time. I am quite anxious to see what the recommendations are that this group comes up with. Having said that, I welcome Ms. Lee's advice. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Dent. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If the Minister wants to give me his job as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and ask me to make that decision, I would be happy to do that today.

---Laughter

He has the job. He gets the big bucks. The school boards have authority over running the schools and school programs. They have absolutely no control over how much money they get for their school building and infrastructure. That is within the control of this Minister and this government. It is inherently not fair to just string them along and put them in a room and have them keep talking about which they have no control. It is just not fair. I am just giving the Minister notice. He can continue to keep saying I am not going to do my job. I am going to pay someone else to do it or you can do it. I am prepared to take that tomorrow if he wants. I don't want the job. I want him to do the job. He has been given full notice. If he makes that offer one more time, he may just get his dreams come true.

---Laughter

---Applause

He should consider himself well advised. I am not going to see this committee go on and on. March 16th is the day that the committee is supposed to get the report. I expect that the Minister will make some decisions that he is paid to do.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. I didn't hear a question there, so we are back on page 9-22, education and culture, grants and contributions, infrastructure contributions, total of grants and contributions $130.046 million.

Thank you. On to 9-24 and 9-25, activity summary, education and culture, active positions. Are there any questions?

Thank you. Page 9-27, activity summary, advanced education and careers, operations expenditure summary, $41.574 million.

Thank you. 9-29, activity summary, advanced education and careers, grants and contributions, contributions. Are there any questions on 9-29? Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I see that the grants and contributions under student success centres are being cut this year. There was $173,000 allocated for 2004-05. It was cut quite substantially last year and now we see that there isn't anything at all. I think this is a program that is placed in Aurora College campuses in Inuvik, Fort Smith and Yellowknife, I believe. I am not sure if it is in all campuses, but it is in Aurora College and it is a place for them to gather. This is a pretty big amount; not a big amount in our books, but I am sure it is big for the campuses. I would like to know if there is any other program that is meeting this, or why is it being axed? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It was part of the overall reduction process in the last couple of years. There is no question that it has proven to be a useful program, but when asked where our savings could be at the college, they suggested that this could be the area that it could happen. They are also looking at other opportunities where they could provide ways to accomplish the same program. While we are not showing any funding here, that doesn't necessarily mean that the program will disappear.

Thank you, Minister Dent. 9-29. Are there any further questions? Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On that page under college contributions, the definition here is funding for training opportunities for northern residents including science and technology. What are we funding? Is that an arm of Aurora College or some other type of college function? Could the Minister give me an explanation of what program this is or where it's held, organized, et cetera? I would like some definition on that.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Aurora Research Institute is part of the college.

Thank you, Minister Dent. Mr. Hawkins.

That's fine. Maybe it should be noted that that's what it's for. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Villeneuve.