Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister, in his statement this morning, the statement we are discussing right now, seeks cooperation and support of all Members of this Legislative Assembly to move forward. I think that has been a challenging proposition for many of us. The merits of this program are undeniable. I have a few questions. I would like to thank my honourable friends on this side of the House for canvassing well the concerns of both the community and honourable Members on the many questions that they are still waiting on for this program.

The Minister said that all counsellors will be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the following two-page document entitled "Timeline of Cannabis-Related Issues in Canada from 2015 to 2017." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I guess what I am getting at, Mr. Speaker, is that beyond those principles, there are a number of extremely technical issues. I will ask the Minister this: what is the department's approach to communities that wish to prohibit the sale and use of marijuana products in their communities? How has the working group addressed that issue, and have they made any recommendations to the Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair of Committee of the Whole leave the chair and report progress.

Merci, Monsieur le President. [English translation not provided.] It is just as clear that the presence of a cannabis working group means the government knew the regulations would be needed. I ask today if the Minister could provide the terms of reference of the cannabis working group, including the date the working group was established? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess we will try this again with different language. The intention here is to ensure that there is a mandatory review of this pilot project that is enshrined in legislation. It is very clear that the many concerns that have led us to such an extensive debate around these issues are well reflected once the pilot project has run its course.

This amendment will enshrine the process that the Minister of Education has laid out in numerous public statements into the act itself and will allow both the government and the committee to work together to ensure that the objectives...

It is difficult to get a clear answer on timelines from this government. Alas, this, with the addition of junior kindergarten, we have 95 per cent capacity reached at St. Joseph School. What does the Minister propose to do to assist the Yellowknife Catholic school board to manage this capacity crunch?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think it is more than reasonable to have an expectation of independent oversight over the pilot project by the Legislative Assembly after there has been so much confusion leading up to this place. Although Honourable Members may have a better handle on it as anyone listening to the debate today can clearly hear, there are still many unanswered questions and many concerns raised by both parents and teachers. This amendment will allow for that independent oversight that would go alongside the internal department evaluation, and I think it is an excellent measure to allow...

Merci, Monsieur le President. [English translation not provided]. The Minister of Education is well aware that the addition of junior kindergarten has added increasing pressure on our schools here in Yellowknife. In my riding of Kam Lake, Ecole St. Joseph is nearing 95 per cent capacity. Yellowknife is currently assessed on the same level as everyone else, but has very different needs. Some of the schools have phantom classrooms, and the entire community is assessed as a whole rather than per district. I would like the Minister to tell me if he is willing to review the assessment for...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Honourable Members of the Standing Committee on Social Development. They spent a tremendous amount of time making sure this legislation and the public interest, and it was well-represented through their deliberations, and ultimately, through the substantive report that they created and read into the House earlier this week. This act will bring both junior kindergarten into the NWT curriculum, and reduce the number of instructional hours required by law. Those are the most significant portions of it.

It has been a hot topic...