Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fine arts contribute so much to our society, economy, and the development of our young people. However, this government is using a curriculum review to deliberately weaken valuable fine arts programs in our schools. Students, parents, and teachers are outraged. My questions are to the Minister of Education. If the government truly believes in the importance of our fine arts programs, why is this minister dramatically cutting the amount of student instructional time for fine arts in the K to 12 curriculum?

Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, the short answer is that this member couldn't be further from what actually is going on than he is in that statement. First of all, the arts are not peripheral to education. The arts are fundamental to education in this province, and they will remain so.

What the hon. member is referring to is the fact that we are doing a review of the arts curriculum, which hasn't been done in 20 or 25 years in the province. In September a draft of a framework for the preparation of a new curriculum was posted on the website and sent out to stakeholders for comment. It was put up specifically so that people can comment on it, get back to us, and let us know what they like about it and what they don't like about it. We're hearing back from lots of people. It's part of the public process of consultation before you do anything with the arts. Nothing could be more fundamental than arts to education.

Mr. Chase: Well, unfortunately, the ministry is putting out mixed messages; for example, cutting down five credits to one credit and limiting the amount of time.

The minister talked about consultation, so here is the question with regard to consultation. Given that the government failed to properly consult with Albertans prior to this review, will the minister commit to extending the January deadline for feedback on these proposed changes?

Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, these are not proposed changes. This is a proposed draft for a framework to discuss what the curriculum should look like. In that draft framework what they've put up is one process which would suggest that modules for the arts could be set up. There's no intention at all to move away from intensive arts courses for those who want to take intensive arts courses. What it's really trying to accomplish is to move arts right into the curriculum and right across the curriculum because, as we know, moving forward, innovation and creativity are going to be fundamental skills for 21st century Albertans.

Mr. Chase: This daft draft that you have put out is causing confusion. This government has already damaged any kind of discussion of religion and sexuality with Bill 44, and now it's targeting the fine arts. Will the minister tell Albertans which aspect of the K to 12 curriculum he intends to undermine next?

Mr. Hancock: Mr. Speaker, I won't comment on what is daft. I'll only say this, and I'll say it again. We've been talking about Inspiring Education. We've been talking about what education looks like 20 years from now, what we need so that Albertans can be prepared to trade out into the world. We know that as part of that, innovation and creativity are fundamental. The arts is fundamental and core to our curriculum. It will remain core to our curriculum. We will continue the discussion with Albertans as we have for the past year — going out with focus groups, going out with discussion groups — in the way that curriculum is normally developed. We've put up a framework for discussion. That framework is open for discussion until the end of January, and once all the feedback comes in, there'll be more opportunities for everyone interested to participate.