Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I spoke of the Aurora College. The Aurora College has reached the termination of their Social Work Diploma program. I wonder if the Minster can provide some detail on that and why that decision was made, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, post-secondary education in the Northwest Territories is very important to me. I believe it is a way we can bring transformational change to the Northwest Territories and give a real future for our residents, and invest in our young people, allowing them to pursue opportunities here at home in the North and not have to leave to the South.

I've been quite dismayed to learn from constituents and students at the college that they were abruptly told the Social Work Diploma program has been cut from Aurora College and will be phased out by 2019. This has caused a...

Maybe I'll be a bit more clear. The money that's being re-profiled to junior kindergarten, where is it coming from within the department? I understand that it may not impact in schools, but what government program delivery in the department is it impacting?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been some more news on the junior kindergarten implementation as reported by CBC. Department officials in the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have now said that the full amount of funding that the government has committed to over the life of this Assembly will now be implemented this fall, including $900,000 that has been found internally. The officials are quoted as saying, "The funding will be ongoing, and it's going to be added to the school board budgets each year." Can the Minister confirm if all that information is correct...

Does this move by the college fit into the mandate of this Assembly and the direction it has set?

One of the things a Northern Social Work degree can do is help implement the TRC recommendations and help with the stated goals of reconciliation. I know firsthand that one of my constituents would prefer to work with an Indigenous social worker, with recent dealings with the health system. Does this move fit into the mandate? Can the Minister be clear in how it fits into the mandate, to cancel this program?

What direction has the Minister given to Aurora College for its programming offerings and overall direction ahead of the strategic plan being released?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd also like to recognize Ms. Arlene Hache, a tenacious advocate for those in need in society and also a member of the Order of Canada. She's brought great distinction to the Northwest Territories for her years of work and great distinction to our House for being here today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.

I appreciate the statistics from the Minister. It is good to see we are making better use. Apart from escorts, are we moving away from having an RCMP officer in the courtroom securing it? Has that policy shift been discussed with both our partners in the RCMP and within the Department of Justice? Have you had that discussion? Are we moving toward the model that we have seen in other jurisdictions, such as Nunavut, where the sheriffs are the sole security personnel and peace officers responsible for court security and we can start shifting the RCMP to other responsibilities as through our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I note that the current budget proposes to increase the complement of deputy sheriffs in the Department of Justice by two. I wonder if the Minister of Justice can fill me in on if they have had the discussion about the sheriffs taking over all court services in the justice system and allow the RCMP out of the courtroom and onto the streets where they belong? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.