Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I imply from the Minister's response that he thinks if you're in post-secondary education you shouldn't be there unless you're smart enough to figure out the government's regulations. Anyway, I won't comment on that.

Mr. Speaker, I understand, from these regulations, that students are notified by letter at the beginning of the first semester. However, four months later can be a long time for a lot of students. Some of these kids are 18 years old. Does SFA notify the student at the end of the first semester of any changes to their program, or ask for any...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We ask our young people to return to their home here in the Northwest Territories to work, and we are in desperate need of these graduates and their educational experience to complement our northern workforce. It is unrealistic and unfair to be penalizing these students at the end of the year. There must be a mechanism put in place to prevent this type of nightmare from happening to any more students. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions today for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment regarding this important subject. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Any further general comments on Premier Handley’s sessional statement? Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. I have on the list Mr. Braden and Mr. Yakeleya for general comments. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Krutko.

I will call Committee of the Whole to order, and the first item we have today is Minister’s Statement 48-15(3), Sessional Statement, that was presented by Premier Handley. Are there any general comments? We’re going to ask Premier Handley to respond to any comments and questions from where he’s sitting in the Chamber and I would ask the Members if there are any general comments. Mr. Menicoche.

Is the committee agreed?

I call Committee of the Whole to order. Before us today for Committee of the Whole we have Minister’s statement 48-15(3), Sessional Statement, from the Premier, and Minister’s Statement 49-15(3), Fiscal Update, presented by Minister Roland. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Justice. I don’t remember exactly when it was, but in this House, the issue has already been raised with respect to the court circuit schedule to the communities, whereby a judge and court party goes into the communities and hears the cases that are before the courts there. Not so long ago, this schedule and services were seriously reduced. The number of days in the community and the frequency of visits to the communities were reduced. I would like to know if the Minister has been tracking this, following this...

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The motion is in order, it's not debatable. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you. I will now rise and report progress.