Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I'd like to get that information from the Minister. I think several of -- or some other MLAs would be interested in getting that as well.

And while the Minister's putting that together, could he also put together statistics in terms of how many were granted or how many were rejected for the last couple of years? I just would like to get a sense of that, because if there are a number of students that have -- and if that, you know, we have an increasing number over the last couple of years and more of them are getting rejected, that's grounds for changing the eligibility requirements or providing for some better way of recognizing the stress that COVID has put on our post-secondary education students. So can he compile those statistics pre-COVID, maybe a year or two, and then during the pandemic and provide those as well? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of ECE.

Thank you. So there's a lot of work going on right now with the SFA program review. I think it -- I mean, ideally, it would be great if we could compile that as part of the program review and then we could put our efforts towards that, if that's the information that's being requested, we can, you know, redirect staff efforts towards that and see what we can put together. But I'm not sure that the Member's going to get an accurate view perhaps of what he's looking for. If someone calls their SFA officer and, you know, has a conversation about, you know, wanting to, you know, not have to pay back their SFA because of some issues and it's clearly not something that is within the regulations or within the ability of the officer, I'm not sure if there's a process to, you know, log that and track that. So we can see what we can do but I'm not sure it's going to be everything the Member hopes it will be. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. And not knowing enough about the system and how it works and whether statistics are tracked or not, I'm happy to get whatever the Minister can provide and then we'll go from there. Thanks.

Thank you. Any further questions? No? Okay. Are there any further questions on the information items? Member for Thebacha.

I just have a couple of short questions, Madam Chair. On page 58, what is the northern bonus? I'd like the Minister to answer that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister of ECE.

Thank you. The northern bonus is funds that are provided to students who return back to the Northwest Territories who have repayable loans, and I believe it depends on where you live, you are eligible for different amounts each year. I believe that comes into effect -- I know that if you live in Hay River, you can get $2,000 a year up to a maximum of $10,000. Thank you. And that goes towards repayment of your loan. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Thebacha.

My second question is on page 59, the South Slave Divisional Education Council, I see that there's a decrease of $143,000. Was there a program that was let go, or how did they come to that figure? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister of ECE.

Thank you. So these numbers are based on the funding formula, our best estimates on the funding formula. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So it's based on a formula. So the formula is based on programs, or is it based on per capita?

Thank you. Minister of ECE.

Thank you, and I apologize, I realize how inadequate my answer was as soon as I said it.

So the funding formula takes into account many things but the biggest driver is enrolment. And so generally, the more students you have the more money you get. The less students you have, the less money you get. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

That is a bit concerning because the statistics that came out, we had about 11 percent, 294 people that decreased in our population count in the community of Fort Smith. And, you know, I'm always much about education and I want to ensure that the level of funds in education is -- and the programs for the students are there. You know, there's lots of things happened during this pandemic, and this just happened in the last couple years. I know things will pick up in the next little while. But that shouldn't be a deterrent to ensure that the programs and the education that everybody receives is on the same level, because I'm very protective of the schools in my community of Fort Smith. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. And there's no further questions? Any other questions for the information items from Members? Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

This action item is just for the O and M of the school boards. So capital is usually discussed in -- I think we went through capital in the fall. But if I -- you know, I mean if you want to give a response if you know any information on anything that's going on, I'll give the Minister of ECE.

Thank you. So I can speak briefly to this. There isn't a plan. There's no plan for a new school in Dettah. There are 49 schools across the territory and they are looked at each individually. And the factors that they're taking into consideration are, you know, the safety of the school, the structural safety. You know, the mechanical safety. Is it nearing its end of life in enough ways that it's cheaper to build a new school than to continue to maintain a new school? And, you know, in Dettah I know there is a desire for a new school. I think, you know, talking to leaders from that community, there were -- it sounds like there were commitments they were aware of from years ago about a new school but the fact is the school's still in good enough shape that it's not slated to be replaced at this point. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.