Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the Members that if Bill 25, Education Act, receives second reading and is referred to the Standing Committee on Legislation for review, the committee is prepared to distribute the bill immediately to an extensive list of previously-identified stakeholders.

In addition, Members of this Assembly will be provided with copies of the bill to take home to their constituents. Members will also be provided with the committee's consultation schedule that is currently being developed. This schedule would include consultation in all regional centres and will enable input to be provided from smaller communities as well. It is important that the dates and locations of public hearings be well known in advance, given the time restrictions facing the committee in this review.

Members can be assured that the committee will be advertising the bill and the review schedule extensively, to ensure maximum response from the public. I can tell you now that the public hearings will be held from May 8th to May 24th, following which the committee will prepare its report for this Assembly. This report will be presented to the Legislative Assembly immediately after the Seventh Session resumes on June 5th. The remainder of the Seventh Session will be dedicated to consideration of the Education Act.

Mr. Speaker, through hard work and cooperation between all parties, the committee is confident that a successful and productive review will be accomplished, to the benefit of all northerners. Thank you.

---Applause