Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question would be directed to the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, following the Member for Hay River on the issue of religious education in schools, this issue has been brought up a number of times in my constituency as well, and recently at the Beaufort Delta Leaders Conference it was brought up again in the area of having religious education in the classroom.

Now we have heard the Minister say that outside of normal hours they can do that, but I want to refer back to when the committee went around regarding the education bill amendments. When this issue was brought up, a number of clergies came forward to me saying that they were told that they would still be provided the opportunity to continue under local programming which is spelled out in the Education Act. Now in fact it is being said that, fine you can do it, but after hours. Could the Minister confirm the fact that local programming is all outside of school hours or is it part of the school hour programs or functions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I have said previously to the Member for Hay River, religious education of a denominational nature must be provided outside of the hours of instruction within the school. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Could the Minister inform us that at the time the public hearings were held, were there commitments made

to those that were concerned raising the issue of religious instruction in school, if they were at that time told that they would still be able to continue if the DEA, or at the time it would be a board of education, agreed to it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister inform us, if the district education council or district education authority of any region or community put forward and agreed with the notion of religious instructions once again being held in classrooms during the school hour and if time was available, would he support that initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have stated, the Education Act is quite fair. As I understand, it was drawn up the way it was because of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Religious instruction can be offered in the schools, if that is the wish of the local community, but must be outside the hours of instruction. The hours of instruction are stipulated within section 126 of the Education Act. National instruction in a religion or religious instruction must be provided outside of those hours of instruction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under the issue of the Education Act and district education authorities and local programming, the Minister informed that under the act as he interpreted it, it could not be done, but if a district education or authority were to receive a different interpretation would the Minister then review his decision? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In this case I would rely on the Department of Justice to provide the department with an interpretation as the final arbiter in this regard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.