Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, out of respect for my constituents, the majority of whom are Inuit, I'm going to attempt to make my Member's statement at least partly in Inuktitut. I know Members will bear with me.

(Translation) Madam Speaker, a teacher at Nakasuk School was convicted of assault in the classroom. (Translation ends)

Students had to testify in court and it was very hard on them. Later, the teacher who was convicted appealed to a higher court. The supreme court said that the first judge had made a technical mistake but a new trial will not be held. It was decided that the children should not be asked to testify again.

(Translation) When he was convicted by the first judge, the teacher was asked to apologize to the students. He has never done this. What is this teacher doing now? The Iqaluit Education Council does not want him working in our schools so he is now being paid for a pretend job at the resource centre in Iqaluit. (Translation ends)

The teacher is now being paid to do a make-work job at the resource centre in Iqaluit. The teacher's union is supporting this teacher. This is not the first time that a teacher who has gotten into trouble with students has been paid to do nothing. Madam Speaker, the discipline provisions of the Public Service Act, the Education Act and the Northwest Territories Teacher's Association Act are clearly not working well. I know that teachers have rights, but so do students and parents. This situation must be addressed in reforms of the Education Act. Thank you.

---Applause