Mr. Dent.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

The Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My honourable colleague, Mr. Arlooktoo, has been assigned the task of assessing what assets may be available for public sale. We are optimistic we will be able to conclude that within the next two to three weeks. We then made a commitment to Mr. Ootes that we would let them know the kinds of assets we think are available, but are no longer required by this government. Hopefully, we can get out there and market and sell these as we have done with the staff housing, so we can find some temporary relief to our budgetary constraints we are all operating under. Thank you.

Thank you. Question period is over. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, the Member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 5. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Roland.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Peter Hope, CBC Dene language. Thank you.

-- Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I will recognize Lisa Cashone, Emily Jones and Rae Radium, Edmonton CBC and Annie Pendenoff, Vancouver, BC.

-- Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. We have a lot of reporters today. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Speaker, Return to Written Question 12-13(4) asked by Mr. Picco to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment concerning ministerial authorities under Education Act, 1996.

On February 5, 1997, the Member for Iqaluit asked a number of questions concerning the term of employment of principals.

1. Why has the Minister chosen to impose the length of the term of the (principals') contracts on the District Education Authorities, instead of allowing individual authorities to exercise the responsibility clearly given to them under the Act?

Prior to the Education Act coming into force on July 1, 1996, principals were hired on an indeterminate basis. Section 63 of the Act now imposes a significant change to a principal's term of employment, that change being an imposition of a term of up to five years in length. The department sought labour relations advice and was advised such a change to a principal's term of employment required a fair and proper period of notice. Providing notice in January, 1997 of the beginning of a five year term running from July 1, 1997 to June 30, 2002 was considered to meet this notice requirement.

District Education Authorities still have the opportunity to use section 63(6) if they wish to terminate a principal's term prior to the expiration of five years. This section states that a superintendent may terminate a principal's term by giving written notice to the principal 60 days prior to the closing day of the school in which the principal is employed. This provision must be read together with the Collective Agreement Between the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association and the chairman of the Financial Management Board for the Government of the Northwest Territories. It states the employer may terminate the contract of employment of teachers/principals where they obtain the mutual consent of both parties, or where there is just cause or incompetence.

2. Why did the Minister choose a five-year term instead of a three-year, or two-year term?

The changes to the indeterminate status of a principal's term required a significant period of notice to be provided to principals. The department was advised that the five-year term met that notice requirement.

3. What provisions are in the new Act to allow the Local Education Authorities to dismiss a principal considering these new hiring practices?

Dismissal of a principal is not covered specifically in the Act. Generally a dismissal would be governed by the facts of the situation, adherence to appropriate policy and terms of the Collective Agreement and an observance of the principles of administrative fairness.

If a superintendent wished to terminate a principal's contract then section 63(6) directs the principal must receive written notice 60 days prior to the closing day of the school in which the principal is employed. The termination would have to be carried out with mutual consent or would have to be justified by just cause or incompetence.

Section 63(7) of the Act states the termination of a principal's contract would not terminate the individual's contract as a teacher, if the principal was in a teaching position prior to being hired as a principal.

Thank you. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a petition, Petition No. 16-13(4), from Sanikiluaq regarding the proposed reduction to the Nunavut Library Services with four signatures.