Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Senior management involves workers that we have throughout the Northwest Territories. There's consultations between the head office and the regional offices in terms of positions that are made.

As we said, we looked at entry level jobs to management jobs. We do have directors and senior managers in the regional offices, as well, that communicate with our head office staff. We look at positions throughout the whole Northwest Territories, so there is discussions. As I mentioned, given the confidentiality of the exercise in the reductions, they were conducted by those senior management, Mr. Speaker, and not just here, in Yellowknife. Thank you.

I'm still unclear of how that works, if because of privacy concerns they can't ask maybe the regional managers or the office managers, how things would operate without these certain positions. So, to determine how this all worked out, is there a baseline? Do they know what the level of service is before the cuts, and do they know what the level of service is after the cuts? I'm just trying to get my head wrapped around this whole process.

As mentioned in those three factors in terms of job reductions, the main was what that risks and impacts on program delivery was one of those three, and we want to make sure that programs are being delivered, can continue to be delivered within that division, and, in some cases, picked up by other members, other staff, that are working within that division or that department.

So, in the positions I'm talking about, the ECE cuts in Hay River, were other positions in that office re-profiled, or were duties given from the cut positions to other employees?

Yes, Mr. Speaker, duties from the reduction of that position were up-taken by the six other staff in that department. Thank you.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there follow-up on how positions, how things are going now? Are the staff who are picking up the slack, do they feel as though things are running smooth? He doesn't have to talk specifically about this office, but does that discussion happen afterwards? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Any positions that were reduced within our department, we'll continue to follow up and monitor to see how that position that was reduced is affecting the program delivery as well as other staff in that area.

Thank you. Time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to present a petition dealing with the matter of increasing funding for local programming and governance workshops for community-led boards and district education authorities. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 144 signatures of the Northwest Territories residents, and, Mr. Speaker, the petition requests that the Government of the Northwest Territories increase funding to community-led boards and district education authorities to increase local programming in areas such as governance, workshops readiness, trades, and outdoor and cultural activities to improve the operations of community-led boards and district education authorities and the success of youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Petitions. Item 12, reports of special and standing committees. Item 13, report of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to following two documents entitled "Capital Estimates, 2017-2018 for the Department of Public Works and Services and Department of Transportation" and "Taking Care of Business 5." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of Documents. Minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to following two documents entitled "2016-2017 Corporate Plan, NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation" and "2015-2016 Annual Report, NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going to table today e-mails between David Poitras and myself, dated October 20^th; e-mails between David Poitras and Alfred Moses, dated July 28^th; and e-mails between David Poitras and the Department of ECE, dated August 29^th.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, I will move the following motion.

Now therefore, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that the Department of Education, Culture, and Employment produce a plan to implement junior kindergarten in 2017-2018, along with a fully costed budget for presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Development;

and further, that the department implement all the recommendations of the junior kindergarten review tabled in February;

and furthermore, that, in developing an implementation plan, the department acknowledge that a one-size-fits-all approach to junior kindergarten is contrary to the report's recommendations;

and furthermore, that the department tailor the introduction of junior kindergarten to each community with a focus on providing the greatest need to improve school readiness;

and furthermore, that the department accommodate existing community programs for four-year-olds without jeopardizing their viability;

and furthermore, that the government provide a comprehensive response to this function within 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Great Slave, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on October 20, 2016, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, October 25, 2016;

AND FURTHER, that at any time prior to October 25, 2016, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. Motion carried.

---Carried

Masi. Motions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Mr. Speaker. I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, that the following terms referenced for mid-term review be adopted:

1. Cabinet and the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning shall each evaluate progress on implementing the mandate, make their reports public, and table them in the House at the earliest opportunity;
2. the mandate be public and tabled in the House at the earliest opportunity;
3. the mandate be revised, if necessary, by Cabinet with input from the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, reviewed in Caucus and tabled for potential debate, amendment and adoption in the first sitting of the third session; a Mid-Term Review Committee is hereby established consisting of all 19 Members;
4. the Mid-Term Review Committee will conduct its sessions publicly in the Chamber and be chaired by one or more Members;
5. meetings of the Mid-Term Review Committee shall be conducted as follows:
6. the Premier shall speak for up to 10 minutes on his leadership and performance and the collective performance of Cabinet, each Member will be permitted up to two questions no longer than two minutes each, responses will be no longer than two minute each --

Merci, Monsieur le President. I think I'll start over again, if I may? I'm probably as red as the flag.

--- Laughter

A mid-term review process, Mr. Speaker, whereas the Legislative Assembly has directed that a mid-term review be conducted in the fall of 2017

and whereas the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures was directed in Motion 7-18(1) to review options for the establishment of a mid-term accountability review of the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2016-2019, and that it include the performance of the Executive Council and standing committees, both collectively and individually;

and whereas the Legislative Assembly has received and adopted the committee's report on the review of the establishment of a mid-term review process; and whereas the committee has recommended a process to guide such a review;

and whereas the process proposed will demonstrate the commitment of the 18^th Legislative Assembly to greater transparency and accountability; and whereas key principles were established in the committee report to ensure that the integrity of the review process, namely that it demonstrate accountability to the Legislative Assembly and the public, that it provide a flexible and adaptable mechanism to adjust the government's mandate to fit changing circumstances, and above all that it be fair, transparent, consistent and evidence-based;

and whereas the government is committed to public annual reports on its progress in implementing the mandate.

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, that the following terms of reference for mid-term review be adopted:

1. Cabinet and the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning shall each evaluate progress in implementing the mandate, make their reports public, and table them in the House at the earliest opportunity;
2. the mandate be reviewed, if necessary, by Cabinet with input from the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, reviewed in Caucus and tabled for potential debate, amendment and adoption in the first sitting of the third session;
3. a Mid-Term Review Committee is hereby established consisting of all 19 Members;
4. the Mid-Term Review Committee will conduct its sessions publicly in the Chamber and be chaired by one or more Members;
5. meetings of the Mid-Term Review Committee shall be conducted as follows:
   • 1. the Premier shall speak for up to 10 minutes on his leadership and performance and the collective performance of Cabinet, each Member will be permitted up to two questions no longer than two minutes each, responses will be no longer than two minute each;
     2. each Minister, in alphabetical order, will speak for up to five minutes on his or her performance and leadership, each Member will be permitted up to two questions, but no longer than two minutes each, responses will be no longer than two minutes each;
     3. Members shall conduct themselves in a dignified and respectful manner and will follow the procedures of the Territorial Leadership Committee where applicable;
     4. on completion of the process described above Members will be called upon to cast secret ballots in an open forum:

i) indicating their confidence or non confidence in the performance and leadership of Cabinet as a whole; and

ii) indicating their confidence or non-confidence in the performance and leadership of each Minister;

e) ballots will be counted by the Clerk, vote totals are not announced, the Chair will announce the aggregate result of Cabinet as a whole and then the result for each individual Minister in alphabetical order by surname; and

f) in the event of an equality of votes being cast, the Clerk shall report an expression of confidence in the Cabinet/Minister, and further that the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning meet annually with each Minister to conduct an oral performance appraisal similar to those in many work places and for Ministers to raise any performance issues they may have with committees. The meetings should be informal and in-camera to promote frankness.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.