Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a little bit of history. Between 2008 and 2016 a number of significant facility upgrades totalling the amount of $2.256 million were completed to repair and upgrade the building. The existing condition of the building will need to be assessed prior to a recommendation for renovation or replacement. Should the assessment determine that a renovation is required, a planning study will be launched in 2018-19 to begin this process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We're expanding opportunities for post-secondary education that includes other institutions such as Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, as well as College nordique, and some of these will be addressed as government looks at developing a new overarching legislation for post-secondary education in the Northwest Territories.
Yes, we have.
Laughter
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department will be continuing to work with the college and other post-secondary partners to ensure that program is better aligned with the needs of the labour markets. We're also reviewing the Student Financial Assistance program to see how it might be used to incent and encourage NWT residents to pursue post-secondary education that is aligned with in-demand occupations and the needs of the labour market.
The Skills 4 Success document is also being used in high schools, and we sent it to all the schools across the Northwest Territories so that information can be...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Aurora College's new strategic plan will not directly involve other private postsecondary institutions in the Northwest Territories. It will look specifically at how the college can best serve the interests of the NWT residents. We did have NWT residents, as stakeholders, give input into that strategic plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I also agree that we need to build and develop skills within our small communities, remote and isolated communities especially, in getting our people back to work. Any way we can figure that out innovatively, using our community learning centres a lot better, working with our Aurora College to look at the programs that are being developed, but also working with industry and the private business sector to see what is needed and how we get a betterskilled workforce coming out of the postsecondary system. Those discussions, we'll have as soon as we see that report and what is in that report.
We are having those discussions with the superintendents right now on how things are going to be rolling out in the fall. We have still got to see what enrolments there are in the school boards. Those final decisions have not been made. I know they are going out doing the enrolments, trying to get students coming to their schools and to their boards. We do not know what those numbers are yet. When we do, we will be working on having that smooth transition for junior kindergarten in the fall. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will be meeting with the board of governors. I will bring up the request on behalf of the president, and I will get back to the Member.
As I mentioned, the education boards and education councils make their own decisions. We provide funding, and those are decisions that are on the board.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This was the first year that a Minister has given the board of governors a mandate letter to go out and do the work on behalf of residents of the Northwest Territories in working within the Aurora College system. We can get copies of the mandate letter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.