I would like to point out, first of all, Mr. Speaker, that the gentleman camped outside is one of 44 and he has chosen to demonstrate his frustration by doing that. However, there are 43 other appeals under consideration at this time. I have been advised by the chairman of the WCB, Mr. Gilmour, that the board considered a proposal developed by Mr. Bourque, the chairman of the appeals committee in which he asked for the financial resources to sit for six months to try to deal, as quickly as possible, with this unfortunate situation and the length of time it takes to deal with appeals.

The board of directors have given approval, in principle, to the proposal, pending total approval of the operating budget at the next meeting of the board on December 13. So, we have approval, in principle, to proceed with a six month sitting of the appeals committee to deal urgently with the 44 appeals we currently have and the three that are pending. I'm optimistic, with Mr. Bourque's support, that we will be in a reasonable position six months from now and that these appeals will be heard.

I think it is also important to point out, if I may, that an appeal is an appeal. Based on what I've read and what I've seen, approximately 20 per cent of the appeals are overturned. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 1977, we created an Education Act which replaced the old Education Ordinance. Though there have been some amendments to it, we still operate under the provisions of the act of 1977 -- February 1977, I believe it was. My question to the Minister of Education is, are there any plans to write a new Education Act?

Minister Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated to the honourable Member for Yellowknife South earlier during this session, yes there is and I will be making a statement on that particular matter, outlining the framework with which we are going to proceed with the work. We will be coming forward in January with the actual consultation document, itself, and we will be proceeding with the actual, totally revised Education Act -- at least according to the time table -- in the fall of 1995.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. It has been about 16 years since we've had a new Education Act. I notice that the document today provides for a strategy for the next 17 years. My question is, is the work that is being done now based on the act that we currently have? Or is this strategy for the next 17 years going to have to be developed on the basis of a new act that may come at some time in the future?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We would have to consider both. The fact is, our present legislation has been amended a number of times. In some cases, the legislation is not really reflective -- and in fact, is contradictory to -- new amendments that already have been approved in this Legislature.

The other thing is, there are circumstances such as governance. In other words, this Legislature has agreed to accept that divisional boards and district boards of education exist. While we have provided some amendments, there is still a great deal for us to allow for general governance of educational programs that don't exist right now.

The other point that I want to make is, if the honourable Member could allow me to clearly articulate in this House through a statement in the next week or so I will be able to clarify some of the issues that are related to the changes. The problem with trying to indicate the changes right now is that the consultation document will outline the framework of many of the changes that are going to be dealt with. It is difficult for me to articulate those issues right now without developing the consultation document.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

I would like to ask the Minister, is this document, Towards a Strategy to 2010, is that the document that would be used for public discussion leading toward the creation of a new act? Is that the purpose of this document?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This whole matter of the documentation itself and the strategy are to articulate and clarify the whole matter of this government's responsibility and direction we wish to take for educational programming. The Education Act is the manner in which we govern the whole educational area. There have been many changes that have taken place, but there are some things that we have to resolve: Our responsibility for improving programs and services that are not under the Education Act; our responsibility for things like dealing with using our resources, whether it's financial or human resources, much better; dealing with developing partnerships such as private enterprise, with government assuming responsibility for education; Arctic College responsibility for post-secondary education. All these issues are a broader matter, but the Education Act deals with the legislative issues such as the matter of governance, whether or not it's French or English first-language programming.

The other responsibility is dealing with such issues as attendance in schools. Those kinds of things that are more specific in the Education Act. This is generally the direction, as was the case of the Special Committee on Education which developed a framework, and within that we amended the legislation to create things like Arctic College, the boards of governance and those things. I think, as the honourable Member indicated, these need a major overhaul and the consultation document will clearly articulate those issues.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. I'll just try one more time. Would the Minister confirm that this document, Toward a Strategy to 2010, is not the vehicle that he intends to use in order to devise some kind of framework for a new Education Act?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, there are two issues. One, this framework generally gives the direction, as was the case on the previous Special Committee on Education. What we're basically doing in this direction is developing a framework of our educational services and programs and the direction we wish to take. This, in the final analysis, could have a very large influence on the Education Act, but that is only one aspect.

There are more specific changes that need to be dealt with in the Education Act. Those issues will be specifically dealt with in the Education Act consultation document.

There are two documents: one, the general framework we wish to undertake for education; and, secondly, a more specific Education Act which will give us the mandate and legislative power to implement the directions we wish to take with the new strategy.

Item 5, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recognizing the Minister's statement made today, regarding the River Ridge incident, the Minister of Justice indicated to this House that there will be some immediate changes in security practices at River Ridge. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Justice, can he advise this House as to what type of changes in security will these be? Thank you.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister got up and made a significant Minister's statement. However, he fails to indicate, to this House, what type of changes he is proposing, or his department is proposing. He fails to know what type of changes they are proposing. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister, would he determine what type of immediate changes in security practices at River Ridge is his department proposing, and advise this House accordingly? Thank you.

Minister Kakfwi.