Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and you beat me to it, but I would also like to recognize Denae Lafferty, resident of Kam Lake and my constituent; and I'd also like to recognize the grade 6 students who were here from Ecole St. Joseph School earlier today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have some questions on page 51, which gets into the detail on the Aurora College contribution. I see there are a couple of lines that have been decreased. I would like the Minister to explain what accounts for that decrease. In base operations, there has been just over $300,000 that has been cut to base operations. Can the Minister speak to that, please?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I will take it from the Minister it was more or less a Sophie's Choice situation with the college board of directors. These programs, I think, are very beloved in the regions where they operate and are seen as opportunities for the students and Northerners who want to take these programs to better themselves, better their lives, and better their communities. So I would hope that we find ways to streamline and improve programs rather than to end them.

Finally, as I frequently do promote the opportunities that our other partners provide, is there any plan to support...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just more a comment at this point on how we are rolling out post-secondary education. Again, I feel like we are very far behind where Northerners expect us to be in providing quality post-secondary education here in the Northwest Territories. I will not argue with the Minister that the Student Financial Assistance program is world-class and gives a lot of opportunities to our kids to pursue educational opportunities across Canada and the world, but it is here in the North that I think we need to do a better job at bringing not only opportunities to students who want to...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will appreciate receiving that information to properly understand how we are supporting our post-secondary partners. I note that the line item for adult and post-secondary education is $34.5 million. Can the Minister confirm if the majority of this goes to Aurora College? It looks like $31 million goes to Aurora College. Thank you.

I have nothing further. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Has a new agreement been worked out with College nordique to support them moving forward in excess of that $354,000 or is that funding going to be stable for the next fiscal year as well, as represented by this budget? Thank you.

Thank you. As the department will be looking into that, I'll also ask if they could split that between the three campuses so there's a clear understanding of where ARI's facilities are located and what they have available to them. Furthermore, the Yellowknife campus at the NUP building is somewhat notorious for glycol leaks and other maintenance issues that could impact the health and safety of students. Those needs to repair those issues and make those improvements to the building, have those been taken into account in this building and works funding? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am wondering where I would find the contributions to College nordique and to Dechinta Centre for Learning, if the Minister could help me with that? Thank you.

Thank you. That is fine, Mr. Chair.