I'll go to my deputy minister for that one. Thank you

Thank you, Minister Moses. Deputy Minister Haener.

Thank you, Deputy Minister Haener. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'll take the deputy minister at her word; I appreciate the response. They've got to find a way to get that kind of message out to MLAs; thankfully, you've done it today, but we've also got to get that out to the public. Thanks, Mr. Chair, that's all I've got.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few things in regard to this communication challenge or issue. The Minister and the deputy minister talked about things they learned from getting the messaging out. Can the Minister or the deputy minister please give us an update on what they learned on how to get this communication out? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're still working on some of the details, not only this but some other initiatives in terms of the way we communicate not only to the MLAs but to residents of the Northwest Territories. We're working with our communications staff as well as with the executive on how we give out the same message. So we're working on making our protocols more tight and making sure that we have precise and concise messaging to the public moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Once they've come up with the process, is he willing to share with us, the Regular MLAs? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.

Can I confirm: does the Member want our communications protocol? Can the Member confirm? Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Thompson, clarification or rephrase the question, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll try to clarify it, and I apologize to the Minister if I wasn't getting my message across. We just went through two things that have been brutal, the best way to describe it. It's been bad for your department, bad for everybody. So what I'm asking you is, you're working on developing the strategy to get the messaging out. Are you willing or able to share that strategy once it's all said and done, the policy or the direction that you're developing to get messaging out with us here? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When it comes to communication, the strategy that we do develop, it's sometimes on a case-by-case basis depending on what's being discussed. We're also working on a protocol with all the board chairs to make sure that we do all work together in getting the right message across throughout the NWT to all the communities when we come up with discussions such as inclusive schooling or junior kindergarten, and that's what we're working on right now. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I understand that, communication, sometimes strategies have to be different for different things. However, if we're going to sell something or be able to promote and inform the people, we as ordinary MLAs should be part of the package. So if you're willing to work with us and get the messaging out, it makes things a little bit easier.

So that's why I'm asking for this, is so we can work together, the 19 of us, so when we're getting out the message, we can get the message to the prime stakeholders, who are the parents. So it doesn't hurt us getting the message out there. So again, I'm asking the Minister if he's willing to share with us or keep us in the loop or access us to get this messaging out. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To be honest, it goes beyond the 19 of us in this House. We also have a lot of partners with the education authorities and the board chairs, and we don't always come to an agreement. When we're putting one message out there and we have other education authorities, it could be even other Members putting a different message out there, it's not putting out the best face in favour of us as a government. So obviously we've all got to work together and that messaging has to be a shared and common message moving forward, and, as I mentioned, it goes beyond the 19 of us. We have to have our board chairs involved as well as our superintendents who were making sure a common message, a common theme, shared with the parents and the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for his answer. I understand it's more than the 19. The reason I'm asking this, and you talk about partnerships, in Fort Simpson last night they were talking about instructional hours. The messaging came across that this is a DEA responsibility. They're the one pushing this agenda. Then it becomes an issue of who is responsible for it. So the messaging is, as well as we tried to get it across, I understand the partnership, but we need to be able to get the message out there and need to be working together and the partners shouldn't be the ones holding the bag.

This is my problem. I'm sitting here, I've got a number of texts, a number of calls from my community saying the DEA is changing the instructional hours, and the Superintendent of the DDEC has done her job of trying to get the messaging across, and I'm trying to come across saying this is the information that we have, but again it comes down to the process. So if we're part of the process, we can help sell this message. So again, I'll ask the Minister: will he be willing work with us, or share with us, or update us, on how they're going to message these new initiatives? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Moses.