Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member. He is consistent on this issue. The Member is right; on an annual basis, core funding is provided to Metis organizations that are eligible for $13,235 and the total amount we have set aside is in the neighbourhood of $225,000.

What Metis organizations need to do is to qualify for that by having their registries in good standing. That’s the only requirement we have. We’ve been working with the NWT Metis in this area. We’ve had discussions. It hasn’t progressed at this point, but we’ve had discussions that they may be interested in taking over the actual delivery and allocation of those resources. What I said in that area is we would be willing to consider that if they were to have agreement with the Metis councils through the Northwest Territories to have that happen. Until that, we will be going through this programming as it is established.

Right now, this does not include an increase in that area and we would have to discuss that as we go forward. They are also eligible for special events funding to aboriginal organizations and that total amount is $75,000. That is by application based for different events that we can provide funding for. Thank you.