Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, surely if the Minister, as part of a broader Government of the Northwest Territories issue on governance, is going to look at this in a comprehensive way, the legislation I would hope would allow him to respond in that very fashion to indicate that, yes, this is on the table along with a lot of other issues. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that we are going to do possible major surgery on one area and then have the patient back on the table, with the patient being the South Slave region, a few weeks later because the government has taken the broad look that education should have taken before they made this decision. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The time frame, as I say, has limitations and while we are familiar with the issues of various boards being in place, there is a need for us to ensure we get enough information with respect to the issue that is on the table at the moment by the district education authority from Hay River to address the request that they have made. In order to initiate action on that, we have to go out and get information specifically dedicated to that at the moment. The broader issue, in my opinion, would take a great deal more time. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a final supplementary would be to the Minister in regard to a level of comfort here. My concern is the answers I am getting seem to be that the department is taking a very narrow focus. The focus will be the trees rather than the forest. As a government, I would just like some comfort from the Minister that there is a recognition that this is more than just a bunch of trees, that they do know that there is a forest out there that they are trying to deal with and not just a very narrow specific issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that. I do feel that we are a part of that, but for us to spearhead that whole question of governance in the broader sense would require more than myself to discuss this. At the moment we do have, as I said, an issue on the table with regard to a request from a specific community and I do have to deal with that by virtue of the fact that the act gives me 90 days in which to respond to that and to resolve that request. Thank you.

Merci, Monsieur Ootes. The time allocated for question period has expired. Item 7, written questions. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a written question today for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment. It is a five-part question.

1. How many Northwest Territories students currently receiving student financial assistance are on track to graduate from their programs this coming spring?
2. Have we contacted these students to determine how many intend to return to the North?
3. How many plan to return to the North?

4. How many of these students have we identified jobs for?

5. How many of these jobs are internal GNWT jobs and how many are a result of collaboration with the private sector? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Legislative Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has reviewed Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Adoption Act and wishes to report that Bill 10 is ready for consideration in the committee as a whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the Water and Sewage Service Operation Agreement between the Hamlet of Fort McPherson and the Government of the Northwest Territories represented by the Minister of Public Works.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Motion 10-14(3), Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My motion is in referral of Tabled Document 32-14(3), Report of the Chief Electoral Officer to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures.

WHEREAS the report of the Chief Electoral Officer titled Modernizing our Electoral System has been tabled in this House;

AND WHEREAS the report covers the administration of the Northwest Territories general election of December 6, 1999;

AND WHEREAS the report contains recommendations for amendments to the Elections Act and actions in preparation for the next general election;

AND WHEREAS this report requires detailed consideration;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Tabled Document 32-14(3), Report of the Chief Electoral Officer titled Modernizing Our Electoral System be referred to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures;

AND FURTHER, that the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures report its findings with recommendations to the Legislative Assembly no later than the fall Session of 2001. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker,

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, No. 3, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Workers' Compensation Act to increase the amount of the year's maximum insurable remuneration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Handley. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Do I hear question?

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Bill 11 has had second reading and accordingly the bill stands referred to a committee. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Bill 8, Justice Statutes Amendments Act, with Mr. Delorey in the chair.

Good afternoon, colleagues. I will call this meeting to order. We have one item to deal with today, Bill 8, Justice Statutes Amendments Act. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend that we deal with Bill 8.