Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Chairman, the Minister says more likely to relate to the drop of students in our region. I find that hard to believe, because there were a number of students that graduated in our high schools and people want to come into the Sahtu region. It would be interesting to know that the Aurora College didn't have an instructor in the Sahtu and Tulita until January. Even then we had a hard time getting a place for an instructor. So it's not that you dropped the numbers because we couldn't get an instructor in September. So you can't blame it on our communities because they didn't have an instructor and not having the proper housing and all that. So there's no interest after awhile. So you know, to blame it maybe on the lack of students in our region is a poor excuse for dropping two numbers from the Sahtu. So again, is that the real reason for dropping these numbers here? Because we didn't get an Aurora College instructor in Tulita, we were supposed to have one in September, it didn't happen until January when they actually flew into Tulita. So there were no programs in our community.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. These numbers here are Sahtu DEC employees. So these are divisional educational council employees, and all we've got here is an estimate based on the numbers. The actual numbers may be different, depending on who the DEC hires or which teachers the DEC hires. But based on the school population, this is an estimate based on the formula of how many teachers they will likely have in the region next year.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Yakeleya.

Yes, I'm going to. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to ask the Minister if he would give me some more information on these numbers in the regions for the fluctuation between low and high from year to year. So if he could give me more information on this and we'll continue on with the other pages ahead. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, I'd like to reinforce that these are just estimates and these aren't...These would be Sahtu DEC employees. My last answer I said this referred to teachers, but it's not teachers. This is the total staff complement of the DEC, and it's almost impossible for us to say exactly how many staff they will have next year. But I'd be happy to share a copy of the formula with Mr. Yakeleya, as well as enrolment figures for the region. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you.

Can we go back to page 9-45, information item, college funding allocation.

Page 9-46, information item, work performed on behalf of others. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a short question on the university and college entrance program item there. We see that the budget for that, for 2004-05 was $267,000; next year it was $295,000, but in fact last year the actual expenditure was much higher. I do believe this is the area that we're in somewhat of a dispute with the federal government. I'm just wondering about the budgeting process. Am I to take that $437,000 for last year is an anomaly and, if not, why would we not just budget it accordingly, or are we expecting to see the expenditures for this year to go back to what was budgeted for last year? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe I'll take this opportunity. Yesterday I was asked how many students are funded through this program on an annual basis. The number ranges between 30 and 40. So just to provide that information to the House.

The $437,000 included an amount that was carried forward that had been unexpended in previous years. The budget that we get is $295,000. We would hope that the federal government would continue to allow any funds that may be unexpended to go forward so that if we don't actually spend the entire $437,000 this year, if there is a demand next year, we will be able to access some of those funds. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ms. Lee.

Just to follow up on that. If we do have $437,000 this year, why don't we just put that down as a budgeted item? I don't know if I understood that answer clearly. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Because if the $437,000 all gets spent this year, then all the commitment we have for is $295,000. If the entire $437,000 is not spent, we will ask the federal government if we can carry the unexpended amounts forward, which might increase the $295,000. But we would expect that we'll probably spend most, if not all, of the $437,000.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Ms. Lee.

That's fine. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Page 9-46, information item, work performed on behalf of others. Mr. Yakeleya.