Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So those are the only requirements for teachers that are in the small communities doing extended grades? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there may be other requirements that are required, but to the best of my knowledge, as we all know, teachers are in demand today throughout the country. At times, there may be some difficulty in filling positions in communities. There may be situations where a teacher is teaching beyond the grade 9 level with a diploma, and that is because of necessity. My understanding is there are no other requirements, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform us if those teachers hired and going into smaller communities are made aware of the situation they will be in? For example, teaching multiple grades in one classroom? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we introduced an induction program two years ago, which was to make the teachers familiar with the community they were going into, the school they were going to be teaching at and generally an introduction to the culture and the population the teacher would be going to.

As well, it was to provide some comfort and an opportunity to provide a mentor for that particular teacher, who is new either to teaching or new to teaching in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the area of qualifications, or of being ready and aware of, for example, teaching multiple grades, it is good to hear the Minister is talking about an introduction to the communities and the culture of that community. However, for teaching multiple grades in one classroom, are there any requirements or an introduction to that? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not familiar with what other requirements are put into place when hiring teachers for communities, but certainly I can find out for the Member, if he is interested. We know the requirements are the educational credentials for teaching, that they have a diploma or a degree. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, under our current Adoption Act, can the Minister advise me if a gay person may adopt a child within the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, under our current legislation, a single person can apply to adopt. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So under our current law, if one person in a same-sex living arrangement applied to adopt a child, that could be approved?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if a single person applied to adopt, their sexual orientation is not one of the questions that is asked. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under our current legislation, may a gay person be a foster parent in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when a person applies to be a foster parent, sexual orientation, as far as I understand, is also not one of the questions that is asked. Thank you.