Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, prior to this session, the Minister responsible for fire management took the responsibility to ensure he terminated the manager of air operations, Mr. Rick Pederson. This position was responsible for the air attack officers, better known as Bird Dog officers.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in speaking to Mr. Pederson, he advised me that only yesterday he received his lay-off notice. Up until then, he was at home not knowing whether he was laid off, fired or his position deemed redundant. Mr. Pederson was given verbal notification on May 9th. Yesterday being June 14th, he was advised officially of his employment status with this government.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I find it shameful that our own act we passed in this House, this government, up until yesterday, I believe, ignored. Mr. Speaker, today I will be tabling a letter which was sent to me on May 29th, and I quote from one paragraph in the letter:

"Rick Pederson is no longer with the fire management program. His services are not required. The decision to proceed without Mr. Pederson was made since I took responsibility for this program."

The letter was signed by Mr. Morin.

I'm very happy you're recognizing the clock. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have just a few general comments with regard to the Education Act. First of all, I want to thank the Minister, even though there are seconded many amendments in comparison to many other acts, for bringing forth this Education Act. I think the Education Act needed a total rehaul to address education in the north. There was recognition that the old act was archaic and it was probably very difficult to follow. The lines of responsibility were very unclear, once divisional boards were set up, because the act did not keep up to these amendments and changes.

Mr. Chairman, I know there have been many concerns about the initial act that was sent out, and I know the public meetings addressed many of those concerns; although, I did want to state that there were some concerns that still aren't addressed, according to my constituents. One was with respect to the inclusive schooling policy and the costs of inclusive schooling. This government could dream up and develop all the policies they want but if they can't ensure that departments have enough resources to give proper and adequate programs to students, then their policies aren't worth the paper they are written on.

There is a grave concern across the Northwest Territories about the amount of funding cut from education. I know there are grave concerns in my riding about the number of teachers that have to be laid off because of the lack of funding. These are the concerns that, even though policy development is being taken care of, it they don't have the funding and the resources

Once again, the Premier didn't listen to the question that I posed, Mr. Speaker, and it's unfortunate because I'm not going to use my supplementary on it. MI leave it on the record, but I want to ask the Premier, will she review and relate to this House whether or not there was political interference in the dismissal of the Bird Dog officers who have been given verbal notice of dismissal? Will she determine whether there was political interference by her Minister? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, under the public service agreement, under the act that we passed in this House, there is nothing that gives the responsibility to department officials to terminate employees. I know that, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to ask the Premier as to why it was the departmental officials who granted the dismissal verbally to these employees, without even the courtesy of a written notice from FMBS's labour relations area, which is normally the practice. They are the ones who generally give the termination notice, and it is generally given in writing, but, now departmental responsibilities are being taken away. I would like to ask the Premier, since it's in the act and clearly defined who should do the termination, why was this not adhered to? Thank you.

Can the Premier advise me as to why it was the ADM for Renewable Resources who advised these individuals of their termination of employment and not someone from FMBS, which is normally the practice of this government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier if she could advise this House when departments started to take over the responsibility of terminating employees. I was always under the impression, Mr. Speaker, that this responsibility lay with either FMBS under labour relations or with regard to personnel, but it appears that now departments are starting to take over this responsibility. Can the Premier indicate to this House why it is now becoming a departmental responsibility to dismiss employees? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, this Minister doesn't listen, whatsoever. He doesn't even attempt to answer the question I posed. I asked the Minister nothing to do with the review. I mean, they pay the price for the review; they call the tune. They get the results of what type of review they asked for.

But I asked this Minister, why is it that the Bird Dog officers got their notices of termination verbally and not in writing? That is my question. It has nothing to do with his consultants.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The problem for these Bird Dog officers, as I have stated in the

House many times, is that they are very concerned about their safety. Last night, I saw the documentary that CBC did, and it was clearly stated that the Bird Dog officers refused to fly with the DC-4s because of the request for proposals the government sent out asking for certain requirements, and this request for proposals was not fulfilled. Therefore, it is a safety issue. I would like to ask the Minister regarding the termination of Bird Dog officers, why is it that on termination of Bird Dog officers, they are only given verbal notice and not any notification in writing on their status of employment? Thank you.