Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement today about Ecole Boreale and the ministerial directive, I will be directing my questions to the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Will the Minister commit to conducting review in good faith of the ministerial directive related to the enrolment of students in French first-language language education programs before the end of this school year? Thank yo

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights of people whose first language is French or whose primary school education was in French to have their children educated in that language if they reside in a province or territory where that is the linguistic minority. In Hay River, Ecole Boreale services this right. In 2008, the Minister of Education issued a directive stating that admissions to French language programs shall be restricted only to those students who qualify according to a strict interpretation of section 23 and have the documents to prove it. This is contrary to virtually every other jurisdiction in Canada, where the power to determine admissions is delegated to the French language school boards. The result of this directive is that admissions to Ecole Boreale are at critical levels. There is currently only one child enrolled in kindergarten, in a split class with grades one and two. There are only three children eligible for kindergarten next year. If those numbers continue, Ecole Boreale won't survive. Parents and other residents are frustrated, confused, and angry about the situation, and I share those feelings. We have a school that is providing high-quality education, yet the government seems content to see Ecole Boreale close its doors. A closure would mean the loss of 17 full- and part-time jobs. It means people will leave the community, and it takes away a vital incentive for people from the South to move to Hay River.

According to the Supreme Court of Canada, section 23 was designed to correct the erosion of official language minority groups. Many of the children who have been denied admission to Ecole Boreale have grandparents whose first language was French; however, that language was not passed on because it was lost at residential schools or because of the historical lack of French language schools in the North. This loss of language needs to be corrected. The Supreme Court also states that there's a critical need for vigilant implementation of section 23 rights to protect from further language erosion. In the case at hand, a vigilant implementation merely calls for allowing a small number of non-right holders to attend Ecole Boreale so that it remains viable in the long term. I know that the Minister is well aware of these concerns. Parents, grandparents, and former students have been writing letters to the Minister pleading their cases and showing their support. We need the government to work with the French language and Hay River school boards to resolve this issue and assure that Ecole Boreale remains in Hay River for generations to come, and at the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS it is required by rule 89(2) that the Legislative Assembly shall appoint a Striking Committee of five Members to report and recommend, with all convenient speed, Members to comprise the Standing Committees;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O’Reilly, Mr. Testart, and Mr. Thompson be appointed to the Striking Committee of this Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

WHEREAS there is requirement for the naming of two Members to hold the positions of Deputy Chairpersons of the Committee of the Whole;

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to appoint two Members;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave that the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Frederick Blake, Jr., and the honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Danny McNeely, be appointed as Deputy Chairpersons of the Committee of the Whole.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

I give notice that on Monday, February 22, 2016, I will move the following motion.

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O'Reilly, Mr. Testart, and Mr. Thompson be appointed to the Striking Committee of this Assembly.

At the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

I give notice that on Monday, February 22, 2016, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Frederick Blake Jr., and the honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Daniel McNeely, be appointed as deputy chairpersons of the Committee of the Whole.

At the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through conversation with other Members, I have come to realize the economic realities we’re facing in Hay River, the territory's second largest community, aren't well known outside of the town. Even though this Assembly is in its infancy, the decisions we make in the coming months will have both immediate and lasting effects. Because we need to make informed decisions, I want to provide all of my colleagues with some context regarding the fragile state of Hay River's economy. The economic downturn is evident all over the territory. However, there are certain communities that are more insulated from market forces because of a large government presence. For those places, the slow economy may be somewhat of an abstract idea. In Hay River, the downturn is palpable, and at the forefront of many residents' minds. Whether it is during the week or it is a Saturday night, there is a noticeable lack of people in stores and restaurants and nightclubs or out enjoying the nightlife, especially when compared with the bustle of somewhere like Yellowknife. There are multiple retailers and distributors that I have talked to that are fixtures in the communities whose sales are down 30 to 40 per cent from last year. I have lost track of how many businesses have closed down in the past few years and haven't been replaced. Major employers in town are scaling back hours, cutting shifts, and sending employees home early on a regular basis.

Every time I have come to Yellowknife since being elected, I have returned home to learn about more layoffs. I don't mean two or three layoffs, I mean ten jobs lost, 30 jobs lost, 40 jobs lost. We can't continue to absorb those kinds of numbers. I hate to say this, but a statement I hear more and more from residents is that Hay River is dying. I can assure everyone that Hay River is not dying. However, we are at a critical juncture, where our fortunes could swing either way based on the decisions made in this House. I am optimistic about the future of Hay River's economy. I see the potential. There are projects on the horizon that will do great things for the town. We are in the process of revitalizing the fishing sector and there are emerging sectors like renewable energy, manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture that hold great promise for the territory and Hay River.

I also see the entrepreneurial spirit shining through. Because of the lack of traditional business opportunities, entrepreneurs are exploring new and exciting opportunities. In order to capitalize on this potential, it is imperative that we invest in the community, keep people working, and get people working. The people of Hay River are not naive. We understand the fiscal reality and know that difficult decisions need to be made. However, I want to ensure that my colleagues recognize the fragile state of Hay River's economy and consider that when making decisions that will impact the town. I invite all my colleagues to discuss it further with me if they wish. I look forward to working with Cabinet and the Regular Members in the coming months that will develop a plan to benefit both Hay River and the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.