Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also rise to acknowledge Wendy Bisaro. With Wendy in the House with the Minister and I, we represent a quarter of all the women who have ever been elected in the NWT. That is three. I would also like to acknowledge my constituent Samantha Thomas and congratulate her on her new role, and wish her the best as the ED of the Status of Women, and also Lydia Bardak, my constituent who is doing some very effective work on the streets of Yellowknife helping people who are intoxicated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 77(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I wish to advise the House that I have a conflict of interest in Bill 30: Health Statutes Law Amendment Act. This bill amends the Public Health Act to clarify that the Commissioner may make regulations respecting cremations and crematoria. Mr. Speaker, my spouse is a funeral planner and, as such, has a private interest in this bill. I will excuse myself from the Chamber during consideration of this matter. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

As the Minister is aware, business plans are being developed for a presentation to Regular Members in the middle of November, so will there be any results from this review that will inform the business plans for the next fiscal year?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. When he announced the foundational review of Aurora College in May, he said it would take six to eight months. The contract for this review was awarded about two weeks ago. Can the Minister update us of when the review will be complete and in the government's hands? Thank you.

Deflection is not an answer either. The Cleveland report on Aurora College made a number of specific recommendations to strengthen the relationship between the board, the Minister, and the department. For example, in very simple terms he recommended that the Minister meet with the board four times a year and facilitate meetings between the college and the Regular MLAs. Did that ever happen?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my statement, the Minister fired the Aurora College board just a few days after we finished sitting last time, saying that the move was necessary for "continuity and sustainability." Mr. Speaker, "continuity" means the state of being continuous. "Sustainability" means the ability to be sustained, supported, upheld, or confirmed. Can the Minister explain how removing the board provides continuity and sustainability? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just a few days after our last sitting here the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment dismissed the board of directors at Aurora College and appointed an administrator in their place. The Minister said this move would ensure stability and continuity for the college through the foundational review of its operations. Dismissing the board does not provide for continuity, but for the opposite, an upset in the established order. Worse, much worse, it throws the college's status as an arm's-length authority of government into question.

Mr. Speaker, the last...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister also asking the students and instructors in the teaching and social work program to be patient for an additional year? They are, of course, not taking new students pending the results of the foundational review. Is that still going to be the case? Thank you.

I am very familiar with the "we need time to do it right route" here. We have been through that before. What does the contract say about the delivery for the final report?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister tell us when the last time was that he met with the full board? Thank you.