Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that was done, but I will provide the Member with the dates, the person and the report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, I asked Question 285-12(3), the government policy on contracts. In reply, the Minister of Public Works, Government Services and the Housing Corporation, indicated there was no policy but, normally, a community requests to negotiate a contract. Later he indicated that a development corporation may ask to negotiate a contract. Would the Minister indicate that this forms the basis of a policy that a community and a development corporation may ask to negotiate a contract, but no one else? Is this the policy?

Mr. Morin

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Normally, it is a community or a development corporation that requests a negotiated contract, but anyone may ask for a negotiated contract. The process is, they ask and I take a paper to Cabinet to got approval to negotiate. Once Cabinet gives approval to negotiate, then my department negotiates with the community. Once they finish negotiating, it goes back to Cabinet for approval.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Since there is a process whereby someone can ask to negotiate a contract, on what basis does Cabinet decide whether something should be negotiated or not? What are the parameters? What is the policy? How many groups can be invoked?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Normally there are certain guidelines to negotiate a contract. These include, if a community is going to train a local work-force, if it is going to help the community develop a business and if all the jobs and benefits from that contract stay local or in the north. They are not allowed to use southern people in a negotiated contract. Thank you.

Mr. Lewis.

Since Mr. Todd is not involved in the Evaz Group of Companies any more, I will ask you this. Can the Evaz Group of Companies negotiate a contract with this government, or would it be an automatic, "No, this is not a group that could be involved in negotiating a contract with this government?

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we could negotiated with that company. Presently, we are not. Thank you.

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

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to indicate to the honourable Member that I am preparing the documentation to take to Cabinet for review so that we can got the direction and approval of Cabinet to proceed with the review of the Education Act.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell

Mr. Speaker, with respect to students' school attendance, under section 131 (1), is the definition of a child. 'Child means a person who, on December 31 of an academic year, is between the ages of six and 15 years inclusive: 'compulsory school attendance' means the attendance of a child at school that is required by this act." According to this act, the compulsory age requirement to attend school is between the ages of six and 15. In reviewing the Education Act, would the Minister consider raising that requirement of the age to, at the very least, 17 years of age as opposed to 15 years of age? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All ideas and suggestions with regard to those particular issues will be sought from the people in the communities, the local education authorities, including school boards and also Members of this Assembly. It is my view that there is an obvious need to amend the Education Act, to modernize it and to recognize some of the charter responsibilities we have for providing education. Any changes that will accommodate those are in the interest of improving the educational system and the offers of good schooling and good programs and services to our students.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.