Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that the Minister thought that this was a good idea, but, clearly, there has been a reversal decision there, which I appreciate. Perhaps the Minister can just remind this House and the public: when will the strategic plan be available for review, and can we get a concrete timeline, please, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

What of the access program students who were planning on taking this program? Will they still be able to fulfill those goals? We will start with that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to rise to speak to the Finance Minister's recent statement on cooperation in the 2017-18 budget. It is no secret that we have had a very spirited debate in this House over this very important issue of our fiscal and strategic priorities moving forward into the 2017-18 year.

I am very pleased today to share in the announcement that we have achieved a compromise on the budget and that Regular Members, working together, have found a way to express their concerns both publicly and privately through the established practice of consensus...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In her appearance before the Standing Committee on Government Operations, the Information and Privacy Commissioner had requested that her office receive additional funding to fund a deputy commissioner who would eventually take over part of the functions of that office as it is split over two jurisdictions. I am just wondering if that request was seen by the Legislative Assembly and whether it was approved? Thank you.

I spoke to some of these students, potentially before that happened, and they were quite upset about not being able to do this education here in the North, or at least start this education here in the North. Is there any possibility that exceptions can be made for these students to continue on the educational path that they had originally planned to do before this announcement was made?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Finance Minister's address, he committed to restoring funding to Aurora College to deliver the social work and teacher education programs but made note that there will be no additional intake for these two programs, so I would like to ask the Minister of Education if he can explain how this process is going to work and what the students who were previously impacted by this change can expect now that this financial commitment has come forward from this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. I appreciate that. Personally, the approximate numbers are fine at this point as we'll be doing more review of this.

So 1,000 more families are going to benefit from this. What is the average increase to the benefit that families can expect to enjoy once the changes are made? Thank you

Nothing further. Thank you.

Currently how many families receive the benefit?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning made one recommendation to the department, which was to complete the mandate commitment to lower the taxes on small businesses, and that was in the amount of 1 per cent. Apart from that, the overall operation of the department is complex.

The amalgamation of human resources was a source of concern. As again, these amalgamations are being motivated by cost savings rather than operational efficiencies. Committee wants to ensure that we’re making the best possible organizational changes that are going to benefit the public and...