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. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's strong commitments. Let's have more than words. Let's see action. Let's see dollar-for-dollar investment in this program. Every dollar he adds is going to dollars into our economy. Again, I will ask: will he commit to including that in a supplementary appropriation before the end of this calendar year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just looking at the glossary on page 54. The community delivery line is programs offered through community learning centres. The Minister just mentioned the teacher program. Is that offered through community learning centres? My understanding is that was offered through the Thebacha campus. Thank you.

Thank you to the Minister. His predecessor said the same thing. Furthermore, the mandate says, "makes a commitment to implement the Mining Incentive Program." Could the Minister clarify what that commitment means? How are we going to implement the Mining Incentive Program? Is it currently not implemented? What does that exactly mean?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to be clear, the decrease in lines from 201617 to 2017-18 is explained by administrative reductions and the end of the TEP program and Social Work Diploma program. Is that correct? Thank you.

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.