Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know the answer. I have to take the question as notice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like the Member, I am very anxious to see the resolution of this problem in Inuvik. I have instructed my officials to seek solutions to this problem and ask them to work with the divisional boards. I am told that a meeting of the divisional board will take place on Wednesday and this topic will be discussed. In the Education Act it says that the school year shall be in session 190 days and the academic year has to be approved by the Minister, in consultation with the local education authorities. As a result, any changes to the academic year would have to be requested by the local education authority and approved by the Minister. So far, I have not received any requests from the divisional board or local education authority. I would expect that if the divisional board approves or supports the teachers, soon after they meet on Wednesday I will be getting a request. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, when I have adequate time to review the current situation and have had time to review the job descriptions of those people who hold those positions, I will try and find solutions to the problem.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree that there is room for improvement over the existing system that we use in caring for out-of-town students that stay at Akaitcho Hall and other places in Yellowknife. I will look into the matter for the Member to see how we can improve the existing system. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to have learned of an individual who had just committed suicide last Friday, and I would like to inform this House that Neevee Allianak of Hall Beach has committed suicide. Mr. Speaker, I bring this to the attention of the House out of my concern for this horrible, unacceptable problem that we have in the Northwest Territories. Somehow we have to get the message across to every individual in the NWT that suicide is not, I repeat, is not the solution to anything but is simply the end of a life and the creation of a lot of pain and suffering by the departed person for his family and the whole community.

It is a serious problem in the Northwest Territories. We have to come to grips with it. We have to work with the communities. We have to work with the individuals who might be suffering and want to self-destruct. People in the communities have to realize that problems of suicide are not someone else's problem. It is a defeat that we all suffer together. The government itself cannot find the solution or stop the problem. Government can only provide programs that would help the community to become strong and better equipped to deal with daily problems and challenges that confront them.

I would encourage everyone to work with their community leadership to find a solution to finally stop this very horrible problem that we have in the Northwest Territories. If we believe in creating a better tomorrow, we will work together in this most important work that we can do, which is to find solutions.

I am deeply moved for the Allianak family and offer my condolences to them. Thank you.

On the third Monday in February every year Canadians celebrate Heritage Day. Our heritage is what gives us our identity as individuals, as a community, as a region, and as a country. Celebrating Heritage Day promotes an awareness of the vital need to preserve our heritage for the generations of Canadians to come. In a time when many of us are promoting Canadian unity, it is important to remember that one of the strengths of our nation is its cultural diversity. This is especially true in the Northwest Territories, where a number of cultures maintain their distinct cultural identities while working together toward common goals.

The Heritage Canada Foundation has contacted museums in communities across the NWT to encourage and support participation in Heritage Day. The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre got an early start on Heritage Day by hosting a special event on Sunday, February 16, in conjunction with the Heritage Canada Foundation, the Yellowknife Heritage Committee, the Multicultural Association, the Metis Heritage Association, the NWT Chamber of Mines, the Old Stope Association and Canadian Parks Service. Today, the Heritage Centre is open in the afternoon, and the public is invited to participate in a heritage scavenger hunt.

Aside from encouraging individual community museums to plan their own Heritage Day programs, my department is sponsoring a Heritage Day quiz which will be printed in News North so that people in all parts of the Northwest Territories can participate in Canada's Heritage Day celebration. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not have those figures at this moment. I would have to take the question as notice.

Mr. Speaker, my information is that the department is contributing a minimal amount of money to this conference. The teachers themselves are contributing to attend this conference. The major contributor is Yellowknife School District No. 1. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes.