Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, along with my colleague from Hay River South, I would like to address an issue that has far-reaching implications for Hay River students.

Mr. Speaker, the seven elected members of the Hay River District Education Authority are very diligent and passionate about their role, which in turn directly benefits the approximately 850 students currently enrolled in the Hay River school system.

Since I was elected almost four years ago, Mr. Speaker, I have continued to raise the issue of the fractured relationship that exists between the Hay River District Education Authority and the South Slave Divisional Education Council, and of the need for a separate education council for Hay River. Mr. Speaker, this issue raised its ugly head again in March of this year when Andrew Butler, the chair of the Hay River District Education Authority, was removed from his seat as the Hay River representative on the South Slave Divisional Education Council.

Mr. Speaker, on March 28, as a result of Mr. Butler's removal, the Hay River District Education Authority requested that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment provide the district education authority with a legal opinion on the legalities of the aforementioned removal. Mr. Speaker, on April 17, the Minister wrote to Mr. Butler as chair of the district education authority and stated, and I quote, "Accordingly, I have instructed departmental staff to request a legal opinion on this issue from the Department of Justice. I will inform both your district education authority and the SSDEC as to the results of it." Now, Mr. Speaker, it appears the situation has changed somewhat. On September 23, the Minister wrote back to Mr. Butler and stated, and I quote, "In this situation, I am advised it is not appropriate to release the legal opinion."

Mr. Speaker, it gives me cause for great concern. First it appears that the Minister says once I have the legal opinion back I will provide it to you. Then, when the legal opinion comes back he is advised not to release it. What changed, Mr. Speaker? Is it that the Minister and his department officials did not like what was contained in the legal opinion? Or was it that the Hay River District Education Authority was correct in their assumption that Mr. Butler's removal from the South Slave Divisional Education Council violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? We may never know.