Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my statement, the Minister fired the Aurora College board just a few days after we finished sitting last time, saying that the move was necessary for "continuity and sustainability." Mr. Speaker, "continuity" means the state of being continuous. "Sustainability" means the ability to be sustained, supported, upheld, or confirmed. Can the Minister explain how removing the board provides continuity and sustainability? Thank you.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and with the removal of the board, it brought a focus on the review itself. We are going to be looking at the operations of the Aurora College, as well as the governance of Aurora College, and that is where we are focusing with this foundational review. When we get the results at the end of the review, we will be in a position where we can make the decisions moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I see that the Minister is not going to repeat his bafflegab, so I take that as a win. The terms of reference for the foundational review ask the contractor to assess whether the board, as part of the governance structure, is operating effectively. Has that question not been answered by the Minister's decision to dismiss them?
A lot has happened from 2013 to 2017, where we are today. We have more information that we did not have before, NWT-specific information that we can work with our partners with, our non-government organizations, about how we proceed on the operations of Aurora College. At the end of the day, it is all about student success and having the right programs in place to ensure that our students succeed and become part of the workforce, and those areas can be addressed: legislation, administration, governance, as well as operation.
Deflection is not an answer either. The Cleveland report on Aurora College made a number of specific recommendations to strengthen the relationship between the board, the Minister, and the department. For example, in very simple terms he recommended that the Minister meet with the board four times a year and facilitate meetings between the college and the Regular MLAs. Did that ever happen?
Yes, previous to the decisions that I made we did meet with the board on a regular basis, and with the discussions in the May/June sitting we thought it was best to go in the direction in which we are removing it now with the foundational review that is going to look at everything. Prior to that, we did have those meetings with the board on a regular basis.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister tell us when the last time was that he met with the full board? Thank you.
I do not have the exact date, but I could get that date and share it with the Member. Thank you.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
