Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs has completed its review of Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Education Act. Public hearings were held in Yellowknife on September 23 and 25, 2013, and Norman Wells on September 25 and 26, 2013.

For the first time in committee history, public hearings were held in various high schools. The committee thanks the many students and teachers who helped to facilitate the meetings and provide valuable input.

The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill. The bill is a reasonable first step in NWT’s efforts to prevent bullying. It amends the

Education Act to establish a definition of bullying, including cyber-bullying. It provides for the establishment of a territorial school code of conduct and a corresponding safe schools plan for each district education authority.

The committee received substantial input from the public, both written and in person. This, combined with the committee’s work, resulted in three proposed amendments to this bill. First, to strengthen the definition of bullying; second, to strengthen the definition of cyber-bullying; and third, to clarify that a principal may establish school rules in the school for which he or she is responsible. The Minister concurred with these amendments during the committee’s clause-by-clause review on October 24, 2013. The committee’s report on the bill includes over a dozen recommended actions, all based on what the committee heard during the review. Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 12 as amended and reprinted to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 12. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Madam Chair.