Thank you, committee. We've concluded consideration of Committee Report 6119(2), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm here today to present Bill 81, An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2.
Bill 81 represents the first phase of amendments that make operational and technical improvements necessary to improve the education system. A second phase will continue beyond the 19th Assembly to allow for more indepth discussions with Indigenous governments, education bodies and the public on the future of education governance in the Northwest Territories.
This bill seeks to amend the Education Act to recognize the vital role Indigenous peoples and Indigenous governments have in education; eliminate confusion about roles and responsibilities of the Minister and education bodies; protect parental involvement in decisions around student grade placement and education program modifications; and support information sharing and accountability. These amendments also help to address the findings and recommendations of internal evaluations and reports of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.
Bill 81 was informed by the extensive public engagement that occurred in 2021, as well as detailed engagement sessions with education bodies throughout the development the bill.
I wish to thank standing committee for its thoughtful review and collaboration in helping to strengthen this bill through their motions to amend. I wasn't quite sure we'd get here, but here we are, so thank you to standing committee. This concludes my opening remarks. I'd be pleased to answer any questions that Members may have. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?
Yes, I would.
Thank you. Sergeantatarms, please escort the witness into the Chamber.
Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses for the record?
Thank you. To my left, I have John MacDonald, the deputy minister of Education, Culture and Employment. And on my right, Laura Jeffrey, legislative counsel with legislation division and the Department of Justice.
Welcome. I will now turn to the chair of Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that reviewed the bill for any opening comments on Bill 81.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, Bill 81, An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 30th, 2023, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. The standing committee held a public hearing in Yellowknife on May 31st, 2023. The committee then travelled to Inuvik, Norman Wells, and Deline from June 6th to the 9th, 2023, for further engagement on the bill.
The public hearings in communities were very well attended with empassioned concerns expressed from residents. The committee met with the chief and council of Behdzi Ahda' First Nation and also received six written submissions for the engagement process.
The committee held a clausebyclause review of the bill with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on August 15th, 2023. In an effort to address the concerns raised by residents, communities and organizations, the committee advanced five motions to amend the bill, all of which the Minister concurred with.
These motions make changes which include the removal of the requirement for education bodies to be responsible for transportation, provide greater participation of Indigenous governments in an oversight committee, and increase parental involvement in student education modification programs.
I would like to thank the public for their time to meet with committee to provide heartfelt and, at times, unsettling stories regarding their experience with the Northwest Territories education system. I'd like to thank committee members, legal experts, and staff for the work that they did on Bill 81. I'd also like to acknowledge the collaborative work by the Minister and the department in getting this bill to where it is today.
Individual Members may have additional comments or questions. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Members, can we forego comments and proceed to the clause by clause?
Agreed.
Thank you. Committee, we will defer the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 3 of the bill.
---Clause 1 through 34 inclusive approved
Committee, to the bill as a whole, does committee agree that Bill 81, An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2, is now ready for third reading?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 81, An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2?
Agreed.
Thank you, Minister. Thank you to your witnesses. Sergeantatarms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.
Committee, we've agreed to consider Bill 94, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023. I will ask the Minister of Justice to introduce the bill.
