Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a reply to a question asked by Mr. Evaloarjuk on January 21, 1997, regarding the Education Act. Mr. Speaker, The Education Act came into force on July 1, 1996 after an extensive consultation process.

Community Education Councils were renamed and are now called District Education Authorities. Members of these District Education Authorities are now elected at the same time as elections are held for the governing body of the community. This was done after consulting with communities in an attempt to reduce the cost and frequency of elections held within a community.

The length of the term of office for the members of the District Education Authority is directly tied to the length of term of office for the governing body. If the term is two years for the governing body members then the term will be two years for the District Education Authority members. If the length of term for the governing body is for a length other than two years, then the length of the term for the District Education Authority will be three years.

Prior to this Act coming into force, many communities had councils which had elections every year. This occurred because the members had terms which were staggered. Half of the council would be elected serving the last part of their term when the remaining half began their new term. Although there were positive features associated with this approach, local education authorities told the department through consultation that they wanted longer terms. They also requested that the terms of all members begin and end at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, the number of members elected to a District Education Authority was also established in consultation with communities. An Authority may be made up of five to seven members, and every Authority confirmed the number of members which is now identified in regulation. Igloolik, for example has seven members. Changes to the number of members, from seven to six or five, for example, may be made by request to the Minister where a community desires a change.

Also, Mr. Speaker, residents of the education district may petition the Minister to change how they are established and how they operate, according to the Act and regulations. This process is described in the Petition Regulations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.