Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. As I mentioned in my statement earlier, access to post-secondary education is crucial for many people to move forward with careers of their choice. That's challenging in our territory, where many people come from small isolated communities. The success of individuals and families as well as the economic growth of our communities and territory rely on access to education. Can the Minister describe the options that are available to Northerners to gain a post-secondary education in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do agree that education is very important, especially post-secondary education in the Northwest Territories. There's many options that we have. Obviously, going to one of our Aurora College campuses. We currently have three campuses in the Northwest Territories. We also have 23 community learning centres, so when the Member brings up that in our small communities it is tough, we do try to accommodate. There's also private institutions such as the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning. As the Member mentioned in his Member’s statement, the College nordique francophone as well as the Sub-Arctic Leadership Training, and there's also various distance learning training that we do support. We also have a good funding model through Student Financial Assistance, where students can actually apply on that. That's all the options available to Northerners that are wanting to seek a post-secondary education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The one accredited northern post-second institution, Aurora College, provides a variety of programs for Northerners. Understanding that some people may want to pursue a career outside the programs that Aurora College can offer, what are the choices for post-secondary in the NWT outside of Aurora College, if the Minister could elaborate.
I did mention three earlier in my previous answer: Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, College nordique francophone, the Sub-Arctic Leadership Training Program for religious instruction. We also have the Stanton Eye Clinic, every few years one program is offered to become a technician, as well as, I mentioned earlier, many distance learning opportunities for students that want to pursue further post-secondary education.
For my final question, and I thank the Minister for his reply, Northern students are supported by the government Student Financial Assistance program. I've mentioned Aurora College that provides an essential service. Other institutions such as Dechinta and College nordique, as the Minister also alluded to, are developing programs with other specialties. Can the Minister please describe how post-secondary institutions receive funding to provide their range of courses in the NWT?
Our main post-secondary institution, Aurora College, does receive the majority of its funding from the GNWT. They also receive third-party funding from the Government of Canada, as well as other education and training partners, and also through student tuition. Other private institutions like College nordique and Dechinta, they're able to get funding from the GNWT through funding proposals. Also, I understand that there is federal funding that some of these private organizations can access funding from.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
