Julie Green

Thanks to the Minister for that answer. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association research says that there's no evidence that these checks reduce the risk of crime or violent offences. So 17 years on, perhaps it's time to test the assumptions behind them. Will the Minister agree that an evaluation of the effectiveness of these checks should now take place?

I move that this committee defer for the consideration of the activity community health programs under the Department of Health and Social Services, Main Estimates 2017-2018, on page 167 at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, these records of non-conviction are used nationally. There is a growing backlash against this injustice. Last sitting, the Minister of Justice said he would not seek a change in this practice. I don't think that is good enough, and I will have questions. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I'm ready for that challenge, Mr. Chair. The definition of poverty reduction in the NWT should be we pledge to reduce child poverty in the NWT by 25 per cent in five years. Could the Minister work with that please? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There was an important piece about the timing there that was new to me. The timing is to have the 258 beds in place by 2026. I heard about the priorities, but is there any staging, that there would be so many by 2020 and then so many more by 2026? Thank you.

I note that is not a policy basis. That is some research that he is quoting from there. That said, what other options were considered to reduce teacher workloads, such as using more teachers' assistants or increasing administration staff rather than cutting instructional hours?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Alberta requires 1,000 hours of instruction a year, while the agreement between the teachers and the government is offering less, a reduction of 50 hours. I worry if that means the NWT high school students will fall behind in their progress through the curriculum, meaning for them, like the student in Fort Good Hope, upgrading will be essential if they want to move on to post-secondary education. I will have questions for the Minister. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have some questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about instructional hours. Mr. Speaker, I'd like the Minister to answer this question: what discussions, if any, have been held with Alberta Education about delivering the Alberta curriculum in fewer hours than prescribed for the curriculum at the high school level? Mahsi.

The Minister has an unblemished record of not answering the questions, so I will plow on. Where will resources for the increased professional development come from?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. The Minister has yet to brief the Members of the Standing Committee on Social Development on the MOU reached with the teachers. These are important changes, and the Minister is not making allies by ignoring it. That said, let us get into the rationale for this decision. What is the policy basis for cutting instructional hours? Thank you.