Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Transportation made an announcement with respect to the Arctic A airports transfer agreement on the accomplishment he has made with respect to the transfer with the federal government of Arctic A airports.

First of all, I commend him on such a successful process with respect to this transfer agreement. But I would like to ask him, Mr. Speaker, whether or not he can give us some indication how this will affect Arctic A airports in the north? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I'm interested in knowing where Mr. Todd was on Friday. I know he was in Rankin, but I would like to know what types of meetings he attended in Rankin. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Government House Leader, who is the acting Premier today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Catholic Women's League is celebrating its 75th anniversary with more than 114,000 members across Canada. In Fort Smith, the Catholic Women's League will celebrate its 41st year with 11 active members.

However, we have been fortunate in Fort Smith and honoured to have the Catholic Women's League and the Mackenzie Diocese spiritual director from Fort Smith. Donna Currie is only the second woman to hold that position. In the past, the CWL always had a priest as a chaplain.

The CWL started in Fort Smith in 1954 with eight members and they were, at the time, Mrs. Saraphine Evans, Mrs. Bohnet, Mrs. Gratix, Mrs. Giroux, and Mrs. Amirault, who was the first president, with Father Mokwa being the chaplain.

Mr. Speaker, the objectives of the CWL actually began when they responded to a call from Bishop Emil Legal to assist immigrant women. The CWL came to the rescue by setting up the first English as a second language course in Canada. In 1946, the league passed resolutions to provide youth centres across the country to combat juvenile delinquency. In Alberta, it had its key role in setting up and funding women's shelters. In 1958 in Fort Smith, Father Mousseau, who is now in Yellowknife, became the first chaplain of the CWL and the league was also amalgamated with Alberta at the time.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the league concentrated on the sanctity of life, women in the church, Christian family life, world peace, pension reform and social justice for women worldwide. I would like to take the time to recognize the present active members of the CWL: Donna Currie, Anna Hodgkins, Monique Bird, Jean Le Guerfler, Dora Tourangeau, Saraphine Evans, Giselle Soucy, Joan Langevin, Isabelle Le Guerrier, Margaret Levadnuk, and Charlotte Anderson. Saraphine Evans was one of the initial members and continues to be involved. One of the other members, Dora Tourangeau, is in her late 80s and still helps out with the CWL. I would like to take the time to commend and thank the women who have given all their extra effort to the CWL. We are proud of our women, who continue to be active members in striving for the spiritual interest of our community. Thank you.

---Applause

Mr. Chairman, I move that we report progress.

Mr. Chairman, I asked a question and I'm not too sure if Mr. Nerysoo is trying to answer Mr. Koe's question, but my question is on the record. I would like to ask if this is uniform for kindergarten and for five-year-old students. How is this applicable? It was my recollection that consideration was going to be given for some kind of amendment. As it hasn't been brought forth, I would like to get clarification. I know the Minister said to recognize him first because he has amendments, but in any proceedings, it's the prerogative of the chair to recognize whoever they should. So, I would appreciate an answer, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to clause 5, I believe there was some concern with regard to the academic year for grade 5. I would like to ask the Minister, does this just apply -- how can I state this -- to the date of December 31st, uniformly, for kindergarten classes for the age of that particular grade? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wholeheartedly support the request of the aboriginal leaders to meet in committee of the whole.

We did discuss this issue in Caucus where we did indicate that we would meet with the Western Caucus initially. However, apparently, it is my understanding that the aboriginal leaders wanted to meet in public, and I respect that. As I also indicated in Caucus, first of all, I don't believe the aboriginal leaders have had a forum to state their positions or ask for their comments to be recorded publicly, and I think this forum of committee of the whole gives them that opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, we are all aware that we are going through division, and I believe that this request is part of our process of division. I know that, even though the Legislative Assembly as a whole consists of also the Nunavut Members, I believe that over the years, when they've asked for support from the west, we've respected their wishes and granted them the support that we could.

The current process now allows for the Nunavut NIC to be able to address the Nunavut areas that are appointed by the federal government, and they have a process developing what they want for Nunavut.

We also have the Special Joint Committee on Division in the Legislative Assembly but they do not have the mandate to address the political issues, to have the dialogues with the aboriginal groups that the aboriginal groups wants to set up.

As I said, I believe it's just a step towards adhering to their request, and I respect that.

Mr. Speaker, I think it's incumbent upon us, as elected representatives, to listen to the elected aboriginal leaders, whether they are from the east or the west, to be able to allow them to express their views, and I think it's incumbent upon us to be able to allow them to have the dialogue that they want with the method they want so that we are of assistance, because we are all trying to achieve the same goal; serving the people who elected us. As Members always state, in order to be able to work to serve the people collectively, it makes it a lot easier.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I do want to indicate that I have no problem as the elected Member for Thebacha, with discussing the issues with the elected Members and the aboriginal leaders, being able to listen to their viewpoints, their advice and their comments on the issues that pertain to them, and I certainly would encourage Members to support our intentions and our motion. Thank you.

It is clear that the Minister took steps to change the standards after the request for proposals went out to the public, and that standards were changed after the proposals were received by the government. Thank you.