One of the consequences of decentralization is that even where we have good intentions, it may not work. Such is the case when concentrating Aurora College programs at the Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith.
As much as it pains me to say this — and it does — the Thebacha Campus is not meeting the needs of all Northern students. I’ve had concerns from constituents brought forward to me who fear for their personal safety because of the incidents of violence and intimidation in Fort Smith. This causes them to change their mind and refuse to want to continue training at the Fort Smith College.
How can we expect people to attend these courses and gain qualifications when they’re not welcome in this community? How can we expect students to enroll into programs that take them into greater degrees of isolation?
There’s a clear demand for trades’ training in the N.W.T., yet trades’ programs in Fort Smith have suffered a drop of two-thirds in enrolment last year alone.
I really have to question whether it is the best use of government funding to continue focusing activities and programming at the Thebacha College. Mr. Speaker, with two-thirds of an enrolment drop, I question if funding for instructors and programming drop by the associated amount. I understand the lights and the heating bills need to be left on, but I question the programming.
I am of the opinion that we should be offering more programming at the Yellowknife Campus, particularly in trades, and in doing so, a greater interest in residents would result. They need to expand the Yellowknife Campus. And that has been proven, because it has been deserving of this opportunity for many years. I think good discussion needs to finally, seriously take place.
Mr. Speaker, in tight fiscal times, we need to concentrate our resources where they make sense and question if they being spent properly in that community. It’s not as much in the people as a whole, but if our students are going there and they’re not welcome, we should be asking ourselves hard, tough questions. The program may not run smoothly, but sometimes there’s a bump in the road. Those need to be addressed, and those questions need to be answered.
Mr. Speaker, later today I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to discuss how we can get to the bottom of this and start treating our students fairly.
