Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, Bill 81, An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 30th, 2023, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. The standing committee held a public hearing in Yellowknife on May 31st, 2023. The committee then travelled to Inuvik, Norman Wells, and Deline from June 6th to the 9th, 2023, for further engagement on the bill.
The public hearings in communities were very well attended with empassioned concerns expressed from residents. The committee met with the chief and council of Behdzi Ahda' First Nation and also received six written submissions for the engagement process.
The committee held a clause-by-clause review of the bill with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on August 15th, 2023. In an effort to address the concerns raised by residents, communities and organizations, the committee advanced five motions to amend the bill, all of which the Minister concurred with.
These motions make changes which include the removal of the requirement for education bodies to be responsible for transportation, provide greater participation of Indigenous governments in an oversight committee, and increase parental involvement in student education modification programs.
I would like to thank the public for their time to meet with committee to provide heartfelt and, at times, unsettling stories regarding their experience with the Northwest Territories education system. I'd like to thank committee members, legal experts, and staff for the work that they did on Bill 81. I'd also like to acknowledge the collaborative work by the Minister and the department in getting this bill to where it is today.
Individual Members may have additional comments or questions. Thank you, Madam Chair.