Bill Braden

Okay. That opens up a number of areas, but they are probably more hypothetical and what I should do is wait until the strategy is brought forward, and then engage in that funding question. So that's all I have, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the area here of culture, heritage and languages, the notes in the main estimates refer to the development of a northern arts strategy. This is something that is a carryover from the previous assembly, something that I've been looking forward to and so have dozens of organizations and hundreds of performers and volunteers in the arts area.

This is a joint approach, Mr. Chairman, between this department and the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. I wanted to ask the Minister when we might see the actual completion of this strategy and the...

Another area of general interest under this area, Mr. Chairman, in advanced education and careers, is the need for us to somehow provide assistance to new Canadians in the area of English as a second language instruction. Can the Minister advise does the GNWT make this kind of training available through any of our institutions or perhaps indirectly through NGOs? What are we doing to help out new Canadians who need that kind of literacy help? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, what are the trends here? Should we be looking at augmenting this $3,500 in the relatively near future? Are we keeping watch on this? Are we keeping tabs on it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the best things we have going for us here in the Northwest Territories is our student financial assistance program. It's one of the best in Canada in terms of the extent of support we provide. I think it is one of the great advantages that we hold out to helping families stay in the North and helping attract families to consider growing here and living here and expanding the economy and the society we have.

In looking at the budget item here, Mr. Chairman, I see an increase in the program of $1 million, from about $11.8 million in this current year to $12.8...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the major, perhaps the major outstanding issue of the Giant property, Mr. Speaker, is the question of how we are going to be managing the underground vaults that are full of arsenic trioxide. The federal government has indicated that it wants to proceed with an underground freezing option, and I would like to ask the Minister from the GNWT side has this government considered that option and is it prepared to give it its full endorsement? Thank you.

To the inclusion in the capital plan here, Mr. Chairman, of K’alemi Dene School replacement and, as we have already discussed, a new potential high school in Yellowknife, are these new additions to the capital plan? I am wondering at what point did these items get added to the plan, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to explore this issue of jurisdiction a bit more. There was of course at some point a transfer from federal to territorial jurisdiction for environmental responsibility. Is there difficulty at that sort of large high policy level, or are we simply in dispute about a single site, a single issue cleanup? What is this jurisdictional problem, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What we heard last night, Mr. Speaker, was a strong signal that Yellowknife residents are taking an active interest in what is going on with our neighbours to the north and the east. The feedback that I received was that the meeting was informative and generally well received. I hope that there will be more. Mr. Speaker, I am a supporter of the Tlicho people’s goals and dreams to have their own governing institutions and take charge of their own affairs, through the responsibilities that this government and this legislature has to pass these laws and implement the...