Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. Last week I asked the Minister if the Department of Education had a five-year plan. He answered, "Yes." I asked him if he could provide me with a copy of the plan. He answered, "Yes." My question is: When?

Minister of Education, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will try to have the plan given to the Member this week. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, I have not always agreed with every decision about funding arrangements and appointments to the Status of Women Council, but in recent months I have come to value the council's role as an advisory body. I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for the Status of Women Council of the NWT in response to Mr. Arvaluk, and that is whether or not the Minister has decided to seek advice from the Status of Women Council.

Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After I reviewed my response to the honourable Member's question yesterday, I realized I must have misunderstood the question. Yes, I am going to be seeking advice from the Status of Women Council.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice, what is the status of the family law review committee?

Minister of Justice, Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the special advisor on gender equality, Katherine Peterson, has been working hard, with some assistance from staff, to do a public consultation process. I understand that she has now held community workshops in at least two communities in every region of the Northwest Territories. The final report and recommendations of the special advisor are due by the end of March 1992. I understand that she will meet that deadline. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, obviously the Minister was not listening. I did not ask for the status of the special advisor on gender equality; I asked for the status of the family law review committee.

Mr. Patterson.

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker. I apologize to the honourable Member. Mr. Speaker, the current status of the family law review is that a person who had been chairing the working group since its inception has left the Department of Justice to work in the Department of Social Services. That person has been carrying on with the family law review duties while, at the same time, undertaking new responsibilities for the Department of Social Services, so there has been a little difficulty in getting the report completed. The status today, Mr. Speaker, is that the report is now being edited. It has been put together, and it will then be distributed to members of the working group on family law, which includes the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, the Departments of Social Services and Justice, representatives from aboriginal organizations, and the legal profession. Once those comments are received, then it will be submitted back to the government for action. It is hoped that all of this will take place, Mr. Speaker, before the end of this fiscal year. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister did indicate in December that the individual who was the chairperson was an employee of the Department of Justice and is now working with the Department of Social Services. In December, the Minister indicated that the bulk of the work was near completion. He now states that he will be able to present this report to the House toward the end of the fiscal year. I would like to ask the Minister, when will the report be sent to the House? Thank you.

Mr. Patterson.

I will take the question as notice and get back as soon as I can, Mr. Speaker.

The question is being taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Justice. Mr. Speaker, I will be careful with this question not to discuss the specific details of any matters which have been before the courts and may be subject to appeal.

My question to the Minister of Justice is: I understand that the chief counsel for the Northwest Territories will be leaving his post soon and that there will be a significant turnover of personnel within the Crown office. Is the Minister able to assure this House that the staff shortage and turnover within the Crown office will not influence the decision on whether or not to appeal the territorial court's ruling on the Paul Quassa absolute discharge?