Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am sorry. Did the Minister say he will make that commitment or he has made that commitment? I don't think we have heard it until now. If he could clarify. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would appreciate receiving that information. I think of the other kinds of projects we are thinking of developing as far as transportation corridors and how funding like this can make a big difference for the community. I hope we do pursue other relationships like this. I will ask that the Minister make a commitment to providing the most recent report or perhaps a summary of the impacts of the benefits so far. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On page 226, there is a grantinkind, Deh Cho bridge opportunities grant. I am wondering if the Minister can give some detail on this grant? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of funding to Aurora College.

Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 224 electronic signatures of Northwest Territories residents, and, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request that the Government of the Northwest Territories maintain funding to Aurora College in the 2017-2018 budget year and throughout the life of the current Assembly that is sufficient to allow the college to continue to offer all of its existing programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am sure the Minister is well aware that we are all eagerly awaiting the strategic plan and the process that will come forward from this. Can the Minister advise how the college will be used to support the Skills 4 Success strategic plan?

It looks like we are cutting off two programs that have direct relation with that strategy, so are we going to fill our labour gap solely on the backs of southern institutions, or are we going to build some programs here in the North that work to support that plan?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have some questions for the Minister of Education on the funding to Aurora College. When the Minister and his department were involved in discussions with Aurora College about identifying reductions, was a discussion held about how the college could leverage additional funds from other sources, from thirdparty sources, to make up the reductions that our government was asking of them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the cuts to Aurora College. I am simply confounded by how stubborn the Minister and the government is being with the cuts to the social work program and the Teacher Education Program. How much public backlash and criticism must they face before it becomes evident that this is not what the people of the Northwest Territories want? It is not about us, Mr. Speaker, about the Regular Members, but the people we serve. Their voice has been loud and clear on this issue. They have protested outside this legislature. They have written...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My concern was that we would be reviewing this in the head of such a policy existing, but I am pleased to know that it does, in fact, exist. That eases my concerns procedurally around this process. I am content with that. As soon as the Minister feels he can share that policy, I am sure we are all happy to look at it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not sure if this is the place for it, but I have a question: in light of the amalgamation, does an establishment policy exist for this new Department of Infrastructure? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the response from Mr. Neudorf. Can the department provide us with any detail on the economic benefits that have come from the impact of the grant funding so far? I will just start with that. Thank you.