Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. After engaging over 7,000 Albertans, the Setting the Direction for Special Education final report was submitted to the minister over 10 months ago, yet we still have not heard any response from the government. To the Minister of Education: is the delay in the government response an indication that you're backing away from a commitment to a truly supportive and inclusive education system that Albertans obviously demonstrated they wanted?

Mr. Hancock: No, Mr. Speaker. I can understand the hon. member's frustration in that he chaired the task force and did an excellent job with the stakeholders in getting that report. But I would also say that it does take time to get policy approval and to put implementa­tion plans in place. We're working very, very strongly interdepart­mentally to make sure that Health, Children and Youth Services, and Education work together. This is a major shift in philosophy, from a diagnostic model to a learning-based model, and we need to take the time to do it right.

Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Given the fact that there have been no increases to the funding for special education since 2008, how do you explain the Edmonton Catholic school system's recent announcement to integrate every child in every classroom?

Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, we should be clear that it's not about integrating every child into every classroom. Inclusive education is about making sure that every child is included in education and has the appropriate learning opportunities for that child. That is different from the concept of any child in any classroom. That would not be possible.

The process that the Edmonton Catholic school board is engaged in, as I understand it, relates primarily to students with mild and moderate needs, and those children very often can be included in classrooms with appropriate learning plans and learning profiles. If they're engaging in doing that ahead of the . . .

Mr. Bhardwaj: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My final question to the same minister: since the boards are taking the initiative to move towards inclusive education on their own, is that a sign that the sector is anticipating cuts to special education?

Mr. Hancock: No, Mr. Speaker. They shouldn't be anticipating cuts to special education, nor should they necessarily be anticipating significant increases. What they should be anticipating is that we should look at the resources we have and make sure that we use those resources in the most appropriate way. That's what this design is all about. It's not the fifth review of a funding formula. It's about looking at how we can do things better with what we have and how we can make sure that every child is included, has the opportunity to move from where they are to where they can be and achieve their full potential.