Charles Dent

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I don't disagree with the Member that NACC is an important and useful organization. The facility is quite unique and also important to have. But I think it's important to recognize that the contributions from this government involve the space there. If they had to lease that space it would probably cost $100,000 a year. That's provided by this government as a charity lease. This government does pay for the utilities and maintenance, and that costs about $48,000 a year, on top of the $30,000 grant. We are always prepared to listen to requests from...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can certainly advise the Member that we would be prepared to brief the committee this year. I expect that the programming will be decided and set by later this spring. I would expect then that over the course of the summer that the space requirements can be decided from that and determined. Then by fall we should have some options available for the space that we can present for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, we would be happy to do it whichever way the committee would like. We have all of the information here and we can do it any way. It appears to me though, that Ms. Lee would prefer that I stick to mixing travel in as we go through each page, or separating it out as we go through each page, and I can do that too. For instance, on this page we are talking about under the directorate and administration, there is $73,000 for travel.

Mr. Chairman, I’m not aware of any recent educational studies, but I know that a special committee of this Legislative Assembly spent a considerable amount of time travelling around the North talking to people about what was important to them. The inclusion of language and culture in the schools was considered important. We do try to reflect that as much as possible.

The Member for Sahtu has spoken often about how a person is stronger when they know their culture, their history and their language. I think there’s been a lot of research over the years that shows that’s true. You have to be...

Mr. Chairman, I haven’t set that up. I have been approached by three boards in Yellowknife who have an interest in a new school. We have quite a challenge ahead of us working with all of our partners here to determine how this money can be used to serve all of our needs.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As I said in my opening comments, the rates are adjusted every year. Subsequent to the Bureau of Statistics doing studies to find out what the rates should be adjusted to in each community, the rates were adjusted in November of last year. So we would be looking at doing it again as we get into winter this year.

Mr. Chairman, it hasn't been raised as an issue with us. We do talk to the federal government on a fairly regular basis. The college hasn't alerted us that there is a bigger demand than what can be satisfied through what's being delivered. So to the best of our knowledge right now, the demand must be being met.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a benefit that is negotiated through the collective agreement, so there was an increase from 2.25 percent to three percent of salaries.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On my right I have the deputy minister for the department, Mr. Mark Cleveland, and on my left Mr. Devitt, who is director of management services.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under other expenses under the directorate, miscellaneous travel, materials, supplies, purchased contract services, and public relations. Actually, sorry, purchased contract supplies are $99,000; public relations, $36,000; under policy and planning the EFAP, family assistance program, education leave, miscellaneous travel, materials, supplies and purchased contract services there is $84,000. Mr. Chairman, I will start that again.

Under policy and planning, under EFAP and education leave there is $84,000; under miscellaneous travel, materials, supplies and purchased...