Mr. Chairman, yes, that would be open. We wouldn't reject it. I would hope that if they did that, that we could sense a real sincerity in staying through with the process. We don't want to be flipping back and forth and I don't suggest the Gwich'in would do that, but if it did happen, I would hope it would be followed through. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Anything further, Mr. Pokiak?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to go back to the $490,000, earlier I think the Premier said that it's based on population in terms of the funds. Can I ask the Minister is that on a first-come, first-served basis for how the money is going to be distributed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, it wouldn't come first-come, first-served. It would be allocated by region. They would take it as they wished.

Thank you, Minister Handley. We are on page 2-135, activity summary, Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, grants and contributions, total contributions, $1.430 million, total grants and contributions, $1.430 million.

Thank you. Page 2-136 and 2-137, Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, active positions. Questions?

Thank you. Pages 2-138 and 2-139, information item, worked done on behalf of others, $469,000.

Thank you. Back to page 2-125, program summary, operations expenditure summary, $7.328 million.

Thank you, committee. Does committee now agree that the Department of Aboriginal Affairs has concluded the main estimates?

Thank you, committee. I would like to thank you, Mr. Premier, Mr. Robertson, and Mr. Sparling, for being with us this afternoon. Thank you. The Chair is going to call a short break. We will come back with Bill 19.

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I would like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. We are considering Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Public Colleges Act. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent, if he would like to provide his department's opening remarks on the bill. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to introduce Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Public Colleges Act. The purpose of this legislation is to modernize our legislation relating to colleges in the Northwest Territories. To that end, this bill proposes various amendments to the Public Colleges Act.

First, the title of the legislation will be changed to the Aurora Colleges Act to reflect the fact that Aurora College is now the only public college in the Northwest Territories. Amendments will also be made throughout the act and in other legislation to replace references to public colleges with references to Aurora College.

Second, the act will be amended to alter the current composition and tenure of persons serving on the Aurora College Board of Governors. In particular, the act will be amended to reflect current departmental practice of

requiring representation on the board of governors from all regions of the Northwest Territories.

Amendments will also be made to replace references to the Science Advisory Council with references to the Research Advisory Council and to grant Aurora College with express authority to grant prescribed applied bachelor degrees. Inoperative provisions of the act will be repealed.

These amendments are desirable to ensure the act is accurate and up to date.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be pleased to answer any questions the members of committee may have.

Thank you, Minister Dent. I will ask for Ms. Lee to please provide comments from the Social Programs committee. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs held public hearings on Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Public Colleges Act, on December 5, 2005, in Yellowknife; on December 6th in Enterprise and Kakisa; on December 7th in Fort Providence and Behchoko.

The clause-by-clause review of the bill took place in Yellowknife on January 31, 2006. The committee received a written submission from Mr. Dennis Bevington, then chair of the Aurora College Board of Governors, advising us of the board's full support of the bill.

Members of the public in both Enterprise and Kakisa raised concerns about the government's intention in amending the act to reduce the number of board members from two per region to one per region. The Minister confirmed that the intent is to reflect the practice that has been in place for some time of appointing just one member per region and leaving the second position vacant. The committee and Minister agreed to one amendment during the clause-by-clause review to correct a minor error in the French version of the bill. Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 17, as amended, to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the whole.

This concludes the committee's general comments on Bill 17. Individual committee members may have questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Lee. I would like to ask Minister Dent if he would like to bring witnesses for the consideration of the bill. Mr. Dent.

Yes, Madam Chair, I would like to bring in witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Does committee agree?