Thank you. My question is for the Minister of Education. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I questioned the Minister of Education in regard to the divisional board of education's decision to suspend the group home parents in Fort Smith who looked after the Lutsel K'e students. I did ask him if he would consider whether or not he could arrange for an independent committee to review the process of this suspension, as opposed to the committee only being composed of South Slave Divisional Board members.

The Minister indicated to me yesterday that there was no suspension. I confirmed with all the documents I have that there has been a suspension and I indicated that to the Minister. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not he has checked to see whether there were suspensions and will he attempt to ensure that an independent committee, other than South Slave Divisional Board members, review this whole process of how this suspension came about? Thank you.

There were really two questions asked, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all to the second question, I apologize for making a mistake yesterday in regard to the suspension of the Lutsel K'e house parents. Yes, in fact they have been suspended for the term of the review.

In the terms of the divisional boards making the review, I think the divisional board has made every attempt to make this as independent as possible, by having the review team consist of members from Hay River Reserve, Hay River and Fort Resolution. Excluded from the review team are Lutsel K'e members and Fort Smith members. I suspect that this is because the issue is one of Fort Smith and Lutsel K'e.

When the review team makes their recommendation to the divisional board we will hear about it. Depending on the seriousness and complexity of this review there may be a necessity to develop an independent review which may be determined further. However, I would like to assure the Member that this is the first step for the independency of the review which the Member is recommending. This could be done if further action is required.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It appears that the Minister does not want to allow other parties to look at this process or decision on the South Slave Divisional Board. The Minister indicated that it is independent because the people who are going to review it belong to the Hay River Reserve, Hay River and Fort Resolution. However, does the Minister realize that these particular individuals were the ones who were on the South Slave Divisional Board voting for the suspension? He is trying to tell the community and my constituents that this is independent. Thank you.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Speaker, the review team has no direct responsibility to take action. The divisional board as a whole will have to take the review team's recommendation and take action on it. The divisional boards operate as independently as possible from the department and they are elected members of that region. It is their responsibility to take the first step to find out whether further investigation is required. At that time we will be consulted. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the autonomy of that board, however, at the same time the Minister, under the Education Act, does have a responsibility to ensure that these boards are run properly. This is why I have asked the Minister to determine whether additional members can be placed on this committee to assure the public this committee is independent. Mr. Speaker, it appears that the Minister is reluctant to allow for this independent committee to be formed. I would like to ask the Minister, once again, whether he requested the divisional board to put additional individuals on this committee to review the suspension of these group home parents to allow for participation of people who are not on the South Slave Division Board of Education? The

individuals currently on the committee are the ones who voted to suspend the group home parents. Thank you.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be in contact with the divisional board Chairman to convey the Member's concern. We will then be able to determine under the Education Act whether we should be intervening in their deliberations or actions.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Your last supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, since the review of this particular issue is coming up before the South Slave Divisional Board committee this weekend, will the Minister make a commitment to convey this immediately and advise this House early next week the results of his conversation and, also, at the same time, to review the Education Act to recognize his responsibilities? Thank you.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. In the north the divisional boards were going to be funded monthly. They were collecting interest on it when they were funded quarterly. Has the Department of Education come to a decision on whether the funding will be delivered to these divisional boards? To cover for the interest they were collecting in the past with the quarterly payments, will you be making up for this? We are working hard to do well with the education system. Has there been any decision on what kind of funding program will be put in place for the divisional boards of education in the N.W.T.? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We probably all know that the quarterly payments have been cancelled so the divisional boards were running short of their funding. The government has agreed that they would review this again. We also know that the government is cutting back their funding so there was a decision to make monthly funding to the divisional boards. We are constantly in contact with the divisional boards in the Baffin, Keewatin and other regions. After meeting with them constantly we will probably come to a decision by the end of this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. It concerns the round table on the environment and the economy. In the 11th Assembly, from a lot of work on economic issues, it was decided that we should establish a round table on the economy and the environment because these two things have to be looked at side by side. In light of the fact you have had one of the biggest staking rushes in Canadian history, and there is an incredible interest beginning to grow on developing some of our resources in the west, especially hydro development, I would like to ask the Premier when does she plan to reconvene this round table on the environment and the economy?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I have not addressed and spent time on when that particular composition of an agency is going to be re-instituted. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the Member, and other Members here, that the claims processes are being deliberated and that many of the claims have an environmental area within their claims. I believe that in looking at the round table, the claims process has to be taken into consideration. I would like to say very clearly, and not leave any misapprehensions, I just have not addressed the issue of the round table on the environment in consideration of a lot of the other activities that are going on. Certainly with any development, including hydro development, the idea that people themselves involved with these developments does create a balancing factor. However, I do plan to look at the round table on the environment but I am not going to do it immediately because there are other priorities. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.