Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And my questions are also for the Minister of ECE. I don't want to preclude conversations she will have in Ottawa, but when can constituents expect more information of a redesigned -- equitably designed NTNP program intake for 2026 applications? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will be working with all stakeholders, redesigning that program over the summer and the fall of this year, and working with businesses, working with advocates, working with Canadian newcomers who want to be part of the program and are part of the program. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will this program, as it's being redesigned, make reasonable allowances so as not to create an extension gap where people are put in limbo needing to extend their work permit and not be able to seek their PR? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In the re-release of the program this year, one thing that quickly became apparent was that there was concern over people whose work permits would be expiring in January and February of 2026. That quickly became apparent. And so while there is never an intention to design a program that has a gap, certainly I do know that going into next year that we have more people interested in the program than we currently have spaces for. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if I heard an answer there so I'll put it in a different way. Is there contemplation in the redesign that will give affordances to the fact that your application, if you do not -- if you're not successful on the NTNP application, you have to then extend your work permit. This is creating a cycle of gap and anxiety for people. Will that begin to become addressed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this certainly is part of what I'm travelling to Ottawa to advocate for but while the Government of Canada holds exclusive responsibility for things like work permits, I would not be able to guarantee that without an agreement with the federal government. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
