Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is again for the Minister of Education. The zero tolerance policies that are in place in the boards is that reviewed and looked at by the department to look at consistencies across the board? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I did not say that zero tolerance policies are in place by every divisional education council. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure whether or not department officials have asked to have a look at the policies provided by DEC or boards as we used to call them. I would remind the Members that the divisional education councils are elected bodies, just as we are, made up of elected officials and we have some expectation that they have the capability to follow through on living up to their requirements under legislation. I do not think that we have to go out and check to make sure that every last "i" is dotted and they have done every last requirement set out in the act. We have some faith. If it is found that something has not been done, then due process will take place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that we would like to try and give some autonomy to boards, but we also have a responsibility to ensure consistency of application of rules and conditions. I wonder if the Minister will undertake to ask the boards to forward to the department their particular policies in regard to violence so that they can be looked at by the department. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker perhaps we should repeal the Education Act and change it and take out the community empowerment that is embedded in it. Is that what the Member suggests? That we do not allow the elected local governing bodies to carry out their duties?

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Mr. Speaker, I have every confidence that the boards are doing as they are required by the act. It is an insult to say we should ask them to demonstrate on the basis that they are not. If the Member has any indication that there is one divisional education council that has not lived up to its responsibility under the act, then he has a responsibility to inform me as the Minister so that I can follow up on it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, it is an emotional issue with the Minister. I wonder if he could answer my question. Will he ask the boards to send their policies so that we can see if there is some consistency or provide assistance to those boards in some way or another. That is all I am asking. I am not trying to say that the boards are not doing their jobs. Why would I criticize the boards. I am here merely to say we as a government have a responsibility to take care of our people. I am here to say to the teachers, look I am going to look after you, Mr. Speaker. My question is, will the Minister ask the boards to forward their policies so we can see if there is consistency. We do not need to get emotional about this.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have today stated on two or three occasions that I have agreed to work collectively with the teachers association and with the divisional education councils to strengthen the policies on violence in the Northwest Territories. I think that should address the Member's concern. If this government had intended to have one policy applied across the Northwest Territories, we would not have put it in the act that the boards themselves should set their own policies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if the Minister could forward me the copies of the boards policies as soon as possible. Thank you.