Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will make this my last point. One of the difficulties of the antipoverty work, since it was really renewed with vigour in 2009, is that the territory doesn't have a definition of poverty. I am wondering if the Minister believes the time has come to create a definition. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have any further questions on that, now that we know what that is about. Also, during the business planning process we talked about the tremendous backlog of need in both longterm care and homecare, and the Minister said that the department is aggressively exploring options to acquire additional longterm care beds in Yellowknife in the short term. I wonder if the Minister could give us an update on that issue. Thank you.

No further questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, Rockhill is almost 50 years old. The plumbing system is going. The electrical system and fire suppression systems have been upgraded, but its lease on life is in fact coming to an end. Has the department started planning for where this program will be offered when Rockhill is finally declared dead? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on February 9, 2017, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, February 14, 2017;

AND FURTHER, that at any time prior to February 14, 2017, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Finally for this round, at what point will the GNWT be prepared to make investments in education instead of making cuts on the backs of children through JK, instructional hours, and other initiatives? 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?