Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I ask that you bear with me. Mr. Speaker, current legislations limits the Minister only direct the South Slave Divisional Education Council. There is no requirement for the South Slave Divisional Education Council to provide bussing or to follow any direction coming from the department, which is very evident by their refusal to fund the bussing shortfall in Hay River when they were sitting on the $3.3 million surplus at the end of 2020. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister if he will meet with the South Slave Divisional Education Council and the Hay River District Educational Authority, something that the South Slave Divisional Education Council has already refused to do. We are talking about children's education, safety, and it is our responsibility to come up with a workable solution to cover the bussing shortfall for the next two years.

Mr. Speaker, failing that, I would ask the Minister if he is willing to consider directing the South Slave Divisional Education Council to fund the 70,000 bussing shortfall or find the funds from within the department and provide direct payment by cutting a cheque to the Hay River District Education Authority for bussing; failing that, or dissolve the South Slave Divisional Education Council and appoint a public administrator or commence discussions with the Hay River District Education Authority to provide the opportunity to remove itself from the South Slave Divisional Education Council and be an independent divisional educational council on its own? Mr. Speaker this is our children's future we are talking about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.