Contributions, on pages 10-18, 10-19 and on 10-20. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just in regard to 10-19 and community library services, it’s still the focus of the community of Fort Simpson to get back to a fully functioning library, and I continue to pursue this initiative. I was just wondering, since I last raised it, how far Education, Culture and Employment have explored and worked with the community organization in addressing this concern.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Ms. Iatridis.

The community library in Fort Simpson was severely reduced two years ago and is now just a resource centre. The community of Fort Simpson residents were looking for assistance to upgrade, in fact, from a resource centre to a library where there are actual books. Right now there’s just a series of four computers and older books from a library. Even though it works well for residents who are used to the system, the library, the previous library was still a central point for the community and for hosting author events, et cetera. It’s central to any community. The large communities, of course, have benefited from it. I don’t have to list the many, many benefits of having a fulltime library service in a community and it’s central to the cultural importance of any community.

I’ve been raising it for a couple years and I was just wondering at what stage was ECE at with this initiative in Fort Simpson. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I believe it’s been some time now since we last looked at this file. The Village of Fort Simpson is getting $53,000 at this point, in 2010-2011 actuals. We continue to provide that funding to the list of libraries in the Northwest Territories.

There have been some options thrown around. As I recall, when the Member first addressed this with us as a department, looking at options of part of the school, the school system, to be part of the library, we worked closely with the town council, as well, in Simpson, especially with the mayor, and they provided some options for us to work with at that time. It did not pan out at that time, but I can commit to the Member that I will follow through with where it’s at and where the talks have broken down, and we will revisit our discussions of the last time where we can take the next steps. I’ll do that as my commitment. Mahsi.

I think it was last fall or last spring, I think, we lost one of our library proponents

that moved out of the community so I think that file did go silent for awhile, but it’s certainly still important for Fort Simpson and I look forward to the Minister’s commitment to continue to follow up and work to a better solution for Fort Simpson. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Contributions on, again, pages 10-18, 10-19, 10-20, total contributions. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am trying to understand on page 10-20 the difference between the contributions to the NWT Arts Council and the contribution to the new northern arts programs. They sound rather similar to me. I am just wondering why we don’t lump them together under the Arts Council so the Arts Council has control of the whole $750,000. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chair, there is a separate pot of funds here, as has been identified. NWT Arts Council contributions to artists and cultural groups to support and encourage creative artistic projects in the visual, literary, performing and new media arts in the NWT; and other new northern arts programs, that is contributed for northern theatre arts, northern literary arts, northern film and media arts and arts mentorships. Those are the distinctions between those two pots of funds. We can certainly look at this area if there needs to be a combination. We need to find out why they are separated. Maybe there is a reason why there are separate pots of funds. I will definitely look into this further. Mahsi.

Thanks to the Minister for the commitment to look into this. I guess I would like to ask either the Minister or his delegation if they can tell me what the distinction is, the difference between these two. I know the Minister read it out but he said that is the difference. Well, they don’t sound very different to me except the titles are different. If he could give me any more information at this time, that would be appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Lafferty. Ms. Iatridis.

Thanks for the information. I would look forward to that. I guess I would just, as the Minister stated, if these can be combined, it certainly is a more efficient way of doing business. The guidelines certainly probably could be combined to cover everything that is there. Just a comment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Contributions, pages 10-18, 10-19, 10-20, total contributions, $166,985, total grants and contributions, $167,037.

Thank you. Education, Culture and Employment, information item, education and culture, active positions. Any questions? Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I note that there is an increase in positions in Yellowknife under education and culture. Could I be advised what two positions have been added? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Lafferty.

Mr. Chair, when this first came up I did ask the same question as well. It is an existing position but it is in Hay River for both positions, library order clerk and library technical services clerk for headquarters for libraries.

I’m sorry. I couldn’t hear the Minister. Could he repeat that?

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. If I can get the Minister to just repeat that last part of that answer.