Let's keep the new mandate simple so people can understand the programs and services that fall out of the mandate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The NWT Housing Corporation should not be in business. I am also not in favour of the market housing initiatives, as I believe that local housing authorities do not have the manpower to take on additional duties. They spend too much time right now trying to extend the life of social housing units. I believe we could save money by replacing these old units and then there might be time to take on additional work.

There are some simple truths in government, Mr. Speaker. Too much administration costs take away from program delivery. Decisions made in the interest of the people, from the safety of Yellowknife, often have unintended consequences for frontline workers.

---Applause

This needs to be taken into account whenever new programs or initiatives are introduced. Now I am aware that the NWT Housing Corporation will be redefining its mandate over the course of this upcoming fiscal year. I would like to see them remember what they should be doing: providing and maintaining public housing stocks and helping with affordable homeownership options for the NWT residents. I stress, Mr. Speaker, options for NWT residents, not Russians, not Alaskans.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As some of you know, in another life I had quite a bit to do with the provision of maintenance of housing in the Beaufort-Delta, so I am comfortable in providing my thoughts on what we need to do to provide public housing and affordable housing for those who can afford it.

As I see it, Mr. Speaker, the mandate of the NWT Housing Corporation is very simple: Make sure that there is an adequate amount of public housing for people who need it, and have programs and services available to make housing affordable to northerners. We have enough to do in the Northwest Territories, never mind past mistakes like trying to sell housing packages to Alaska and having the deal fall through and having to pay shipping both ways.

I will double check on those numbers. Maybe I was given the wrong numbers. Another question I have is the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council serves eight communities over a wide geographical area. Is that factored into the formula and would the Minister commit to looking into this matter?

In 1996-97, the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council received $425 per student. Today, I believe they receive $440 per student. That is only an increase of three percent, yet inflation during the time was 17 percent. Can the Minister explain why inflation is not factored into the formula and should it be? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I would like to ask the Minister how they come up with the funding formula for the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this is Education Week, I would like to take this opportunity to speak on a very successful program that is in danger of being cut in the Beaufort-Delta. The Youth Entry Level Skills, or YELS program, was started by the Beaufort-Delta Education Council in 2001 and provides students between the ages of 17 and 29 with exposure to the trades and the oil and gas industry while encouraging them to stay in school and graduate. Mr. Speaker, by exposing students to the trades and oil and gas industry, we are expanding students' horizons. Students see that to get a good job, even in trades, you need a good education. Industry has supported this program since its inception. Students are offered job placement for two weeks where they can get some hands-on experience and can get a sense of whether a particular career or field is of interest to them.

Mr. Speaker, the statistics speak to the success of the YELS program. Program completion rates are around 96 percent of students enrolled in the YELS oil and gas program in 2003. All but two of them came back to regular school in 2004. Finally, in 2001, only one student out of six tested drug-free and, in 2004, 10 of the 12 students tested drug-free. This shows that the message on drugs in the workplace is getting through.

I have also heard good things from parents, educators and students and two other school boards are looking to set up their own version of the YELS program. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, in these times of economic restraint, the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council may no longer have the funds to administer and run this very valuable program and will have to make a decision on whether the program will continue.

Mr. Speaker, it is a good program. Industry and the regional aboriginal governments also provide support to the program because they, too, recognize that YELS provides opportunity and encouragement to students to succeed in life. I strongly encourage the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to work with the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council and examine ways that the YELS program could continue to be funded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, my colleague, Mr. Pokiak, spoke about an Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway. This is an excellent idea that has been around for a long time and should have become a reality years ago. I would like, Mr. Speaker, to expand on that idea. In fact, I'd like to expand on it all the way down the Mackenzie Valley. With all the development that is taking place, especially with the Mackenzie gas pipeline project, now is the opportune time to look at a road that would connect us. This, of course, would directly benefit Tuktoyaktuk and the Sahtu, but other NWT communities will also profit from the highway.

Tourism, Mr. Speaker. There are many tourists who take the drive up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik and have no

choice but to turn around and go back the same way they came. I have spoken to many of these people and they have told me that they would love to have the chance to make a northern loop and drive back down the Mackenzie Valley instead. The route would take them right through Wrigley and Fort Simpson, with short detours to Fort Providence and Hay River, and access the Liard Highway, Fort Smith, Rae Edzo and Yellowknife. All these communities would benefit from the increased traffic.

Mr. Speaker, many people from the Beaufort-Delta travel to Whitehorse to shop big-ticket items like furniture, electronics and pick-up trucks. That's already a lot of money leaving our territory. With the population increase we're going to see in the regions with all the oil and gas development, there will be even more to lose. With a highway down the Mackenzie Valley, I am sure more people would order supplies or come to Yellowknife and Hay River for their shopping.

Mr. Speaker, this is a great opportunity we have here for the long-term benefits of almost every community in the territory. We shouldn't be scared to think big. Resource developers sure aren't or they wouldn't be planning the massive pipeline project and diamond mines. It's time for this government to adopt some of that mentality and see the potential out there and build a legacy project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I just want to make a few comments on what I've been hearing. I, too, am disappointed with where the Mackenzie Valley pipeline office is. Maybe we just missed the boat on that one.

The Mackenzie Valley gas project has an office up in Inuvik, and I think, I could be wrong, but it was partially funded by industry to inform residents of all the pipeline development. The next time Members are in Inuvik, in April, I would encourage you to go and visit this office. They have a lot of useful information there. The businesses in the Beaufort-Delta have been doing a good job with exploration the last few years. They have been able to handle all the contracts that have been coming out. They believe they are ready for the pipeline, and the leadership up in the Delta believes that they are ready for the pipeline.

Tourism. Travel all the time and you will see how much emphasis they put on tourism there; they promote it aggressively. The NWT has just as much to offer, if not more, as the Yukon. We just need to promote our tourism as aggressively as the Yukon. That is all I have to say for now, Madam Chairperson.