Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of Social Services a question on yesterday's statement on social assistance case loads. Part three of the Minister's statement of March 3rd deals with continuation of a five-year agreement with CEIC, Canada Employment and Immigration Commission and Health and Welfare Canada to help social assistance recipients become more self-sufficient. This program sets a priority on training, upgrading and job development skills. Can the Minister indicate which job-related skills will be targeted within this program?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have not said much because I feel, being a product of the residential school system and some of the school systems that I went to, I have a responsibility to speak on behalf of the people who put me here.

In regard to education, I think it is the key that holds the future for our children, particularly in my region, the Kitikmeot. I understand we will be implementing grade 10 in both Coppermine and Cambridge in 1992, but when it comes down to regional high schools, I think it would be only fair to have one high school in our region. We cannot have two because we have Coppermine, Cambridge Bay, Pelly Bay, Spence Bay and Gjoa Haven, and we already send our school children down here for higher education. So I am in favour of grade 10 in Coppermine and Cambridge, but I really do not know if we should have two high schools within the Kitikmeot Region. If we do, I think we will have difficulty filling both high schools. So, to save the government money, I think I would have to make a choice where we want the high school, either in Coppermine or Cambridge Bay or Pelly Bay, Spence Bay or Gjoa Haven.

When the day comes that we will receive a high school, I would like to see our students from the Kitikmeot Region have the same quality of education as what is presently being offered in larger communities such as Inuvik, Fort Smith and Yellowknife. We cannot have a watered-down version of grades 11 and 12. I would like to see our students graduate with matriculation meaning math 10, 20 and 30; English 10,20 and 30; and science 10, 20 and 30. I think from there we could sort of lead the child in what kind of professional field they want to follow, be it a lawyer, doctor or a teacher.

Mr. Chairman, I move the following motion: I move that the committee recommends that the Department of Education develop a credible five-year capital plan to be provided to the standing committee on finance prior to the presentation of the 1993-94 capital estimates.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister please provide me with a copy of this policy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary. Could the Minister tell this House if his department has policies or guidelines that set minimum educational qualifications for school teachers and principals?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions for the Minister responsible for Education. As we have heard over the past few days, education will be one of the priorities of this Legislative Assembly. Perhaps the most important component of the education system is the teachers that we hire to teach our children. I believe it is essential that we hire educated and competent professionals to teach our children. I am not confident that we do this in all cases. Would the Minister of Education agree with me that education professionals should be trained in a recognized college or university before they are hired to teach our children?

Can the Minister explain to the House why he decided to make a direct appointment which places a minimally qualified person in a training position which can eventually lead to her or his assuming the role of regional superintendent in my region, the Kitikmeot?

Does the Department of Social Services have a policy which puts a priority on hiring local candidates for regional management positions, regardless of their level of professional qualifications?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister responsible for Social Services. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the successful delivery of social services at the regional level requires the presence of qualified managers. Would the Minister agree with me that because his department is trying to meet the needs of communities, it is important for regional superintendents in this department to be well qualified in terms of both theoretical and the practical parts of the job?