Masi. Oral questions. Item 8, written questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these are written questions addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment:

1. With the elimination of the Teacher Education Program, how does the government intend to meet our obligations to Section 62 of the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which states, “Provide the necessary funding to post-secondary institutions to educate teachers on how to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms”?

2. In the absence of a program to train teachers, how will the government maintain the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call in Section 63 of “an annual commitment to Aboriginal education issues, including 'developing and implementing Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum and teaching resources on Aboriginal Canadians in Canadian history, and the history and legacy of residential schools'”?

3. Upon elimination of the Social Worker Training Program, and given the dire social deficit in the territory and the immediate hiring of social work program graduates, what is the government’s plan going forward to provide competent, homegrown social support services and personnel in Northwest Territories communities?

4. Our own mandate of the 18th Assembly commits us to “foster lifelong learning, skills development, training, and employability” through “increasing K-12 support systems”, “expanding opportunities for post-secondary education”, and “increasing cultural programming in education,” among other goals. If the government has decided it is unnecessary to train our own Northern teachers, what is the plan for achieving these elements of our mandate?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Written questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the subject of reducing the total number of instructional hours for students in the NWT schools. At the high school level, Alberta requires 1,000 instructional hours per year while the NWT in the future will require 945 hours. What discussions has the Minister and/or his staff had with Alberta Education about delivering the Alberta high school curriculum in fewer hours than prescribed in that jurisdiction, including details of where and when these discussions took place, who attended and a description of outcomes, and:

1. Has Alberta Education confirmed that even with the reduced hours, NWT students will receive a diploma that is accepted on par with Alberta’s for university admission, and if this confirmation has not yet been received, when will it be received;

2. Has there been confirmation that the GNWT will maintain the standard of 125 hours of instructional time for a five credit course as required by the Alberta curriculum, and if not, what will be the consequences of reducing hours on the earning of credits;

3. Who makes the decision about what to remove from the curriculum to meet the reduced instructional hours and on what basis is that decision made; and

4. Will a single standard will be applied across the Northwest Territories for reducing course content in high school to meet reduced instruction hours?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, replies to budget address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of standing and special committees. Item 14, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 15, tabling of documents. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "NWT Species 2016-2020: General Status Ranks of all Wild Species in the Northwest Territories." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 497-18(2), Expanded Role for GNWT Court Sheriffs." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 18, motions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WHEREAS Section 48(1) of the Human Rights Act provides for the establishment of an adjudication panel composed of at least three persons appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS Section 48(4) of the Human Rights Act provides that the members of the panel hold office during good behaviour for a term of four years with the exception of the first members appointed;

AND WHEREAS there are currently two vacancies on the adjudication panel;

AND WHEREAS the Board of Management is tasked with recommending individuals to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly is prepared to make a recommendation to the Commissioner;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Mr. Sheldon Toner of Yellowknife be recommended to the Commission of the Northwest Territories for reappointment as a member of the Human Rights Adjudication Panel effective immediately for a term of four years;

AND FURTHER, that Ms. Emerald Murphy of Yellowknife be recommended to the Commission of the Northwest Territories for appointment as a member of the Human Rights Adjudication Panel effective immediately for a term of four years.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. There is a motion on the floor. To the motion.

Question has been called. The motion is carried. Masi.

---Carried

Motions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on February 9, 2017, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, February 14, 2017;

AND FURTHER, that at any time prior to February 14, 2017, 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.

Masi. There is a motion is on the floor. To the motion.

Question has been called. The motion is carried. Masi.

---Carried

Motions. Item 19, first reading of bills. Item 20, second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Masi. Motion is on the floor. To the principle of the bill.

Question has been called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 15 has had its second reading. It is now referred to standing committee. Masi. Second reading of bills. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.