Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to speak again about the Aurora College housing policy. About a year ago I stated in this House that I believe the Aurora College housing policy is discriminatory. Nothing has changed in the 12 months since I made that statement. I still believe this policy to be discriminatory and I believe it is a human rights issue. Why do I believe it’s discriminatory? There are a few reasons.
Unlike other learning institutions across Canada where students are treated on a first-come, first-served basis, the Aurora College policy is written to specifically exclude local students from Aurora College housing. The policy unfairly affects students at all campuses, not only Yellowknife but Inuvik and Fort Smith as well. If no college housing is available, the student must live in market housing at market rates. Why do we expect local students to be able to expect market rent housing when we don’t have the same expectations of non-local students?
As well, there’s no consideration for household income in the evaluation criteria for the allocation of student housing. Why is it not a consideration as an extenuating circumstance?
In addition, the policy is lacking in clear definitions and often contradicts other GNWT generally accepted policy, the GNWT Affirmative Action Policy, for instance.
In practice, there are many inconsistencies between the Aurora College housing policy, as written, and the actual application of that policy. I appreciate that housing cannot be supplied to every student, but to deny Inuvik, Fort Smith and Yellowknife residents even the chance to apply for housing in their community is unfair. There seems to be a recognition that the policy is not working but no will to correct it. An organization that recognizes a policy failure should be acting to revise that policy and provide equal opportunity to all.
That being said, I understand the college has been doing an in-depth review of their housing policy over the past five to six months, and I understand it will be an agenda item to be discussed at their June board meeting. I commend them for this action and I look forward to a fair policy as a result of their debate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.
