Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am pleased, Madam Speaker, to make this statement in light of the presence of young people, both from the friendship centre and from Mildred Hall School.

Madam Speaker, the strategy for Education, Culture and Employment to 2010 is titled, People: Our Focus for the Future. Our future depends on our children and their ability to learn and make learning a part of their lives. They need to stay in school and be successful, and we, as parents and political leaders, need to support and encourage them.

We also need a system of education which emphasizes and enables the measurement of standards and quality in education. We need a system which enables collaborative decision-making at the school level, and supports communities to develop a vision for their schools and for their children's learning. We need to open up the education system through progressive legislative change.

The current Education Act, written in 1977, established a system of education, administered by government, which enabled communities to provide advice and make decisions through local education authorities. The Special Committee on Education in 1982 said that "the educational system shall provide the means for and assist in the development of programs to meet the educational goals of every community. Elected representatives responsible for education within the communities shall determine these goals."

As a result, the Education Act was amended to provide for divisional boards of education and community education councils. Since then, the act has been amended eight times and, still, parents and communities are saying that they are not really able to participate in the many important decisions made about their children's learning and in the decisions about the programs offered in their schools. Educators are saying that they need more training and more support to be effective in the classroom. Students are saying that they, too, have a role to play in their learning. Our education system needs to involve all partners in the learning process.

Madam Speaker, we have developed a legislative discussion paper on the draft of the new Education Act, which I will be tabling today for consideration and comment. It strives to balance the overall controls necessary to ensure educational quality and standards throughout the system, with local autonomy for the delivery of education. It builds an education model which is centred on students and learning, and emphasizes partnerships. The preliminary draft of this new act provides for a more flexible system of governance that strengthens decision-making in communities and improves accountability. This draft also recognizes that language and culture is the foundation of education.

Madam Speaker, a legislative proposal to develop a new Education Act was first approved in 1988, recognizing that this act was outdated. Research on legislative change in education and schools' acts across Canada began that year. Consultation on the changes NWT residents wanted to see in the new Education Act began in 1990 with the release of the discussion paper Help Improve the Education Act. This paper provided plain explanations of the legislation and asked people for their general comments.

The department held workshops for each board and divisional board of education, and each board continued to consult with people in the communities within their jurisdictions. The responses received, together with the findings of the research and a review of court decisions in the area of education as a result of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Canada, provided direction for the preparation of the next consultation document.

Voices: Direction for Improving the Education Act was tabled in March, 1994. This paper made 50 proposals for change, and people were again asked to consider them and provide their comments. Detailed responses were received from 26 organizations and 35 individuals. In addition, about 15 general letters were received and comments were also provided by participants in focus groups for the development of the strategic plan and through other education conferences and meetings. Madam Speaker, we are still receiving comments on the proposals made in the last consultation paper. Consultation on the development of a new Education Act, has really been ongoing since the Special Committee on Education was established in 1980.

This legislative discussion paper on the draft of the new Education Act contains a preliminary draft of the legislation for comment. It also contains notes which summarize the purpose and content of each section of the draft act. The draft act begins with a preamble, then addresses students and parents, educators, communities' cultural diversity and governance, and concludes with the finance and administration of the education system.

Madam Speaker, the act proposed that it would introduce access to an education program as an entitlement for students age five to age 21. It proposes to introduce student responsibilities as well as the entitlements and responsibilities of parents.

It introduces a new section on language of instruction and language taught for discussion, and it recognizes section 23 of the Charter of Rights of Canada. As well, it introduces new structures of governance.

The paper proposes to simplify education structures by establishing an authority for a district or community called a "district education authority," and a structure for a division called a "divisional education council." The duties and powers of these education bodies are outlined, and each district education authority and divisional education council and its specific duties and powers would be established in regulation. A sample regulation is included in the appendix.

Madam Speaker, this is a consultation paper designed to encourage discussion and provide further direction to improve this piece of legislation. Before the Education Act is introduced, Members of the Legislative Assembly, education agencies and northerners need time to consider the changes and to review the legislation in draft form. This act is of interest to many individuals and organizations.

We recognize that it may be difficult to get a consensus on the details of the act, as most individuals have opinions on education. But it should be possible to develop consensus around the main themes of change which emphasize students, partnership, language and culture, local autonomy for the delivery of education, standards and improved accountability.

Madam Speaker, this Assembly has stated that education is a priority and I believe that developing and considering this legislative discussion paper on the draft of the new Education Act demonstrates that priority. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause