Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 25, An Act to Amend the Education Act, on May 28, 2014. A clause-by-clause review was conducted on October 5, 2014. The committee thanks the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill.

The bill is intended to bring superintendents of the district education councils and the Commission scolaire francophone into the public service. Three school boards would not be affected. The Tlicho Community Service Agency has a unique structure and will not be affected by this legislation. As well, the two Yellowknife superintendents will remain outside the public service.

The bill makes corollary amendments to the Public Service Act to address the employment status of superintendents.

The committee consulted with the chairs of the affected education bodies and no concerns were identified. However, during the public hearing in the clause-by-clause review, Members expressed some concerns about the implications of bringing superintendents into the public service. Specifically, some Members were apprehensive about the potential for the authority of superintendents to be unduly constrained. Members also noted that some superintendent pensions are currently provided through NEBS, the Northern Employee Benefits Services, and asked the Minister to clarify who will cover the costs of converting pensions from NEBS to the GNWT Public Service Plan.

The Minister subsequently advised that if there was a cost to the employer to convert pensions, the department would cover that cost.

Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 25 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 25, and individual committee members may have additional questions and or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.