Sorry, Madam Chair, I just got really into my committee work this season. So I just wanted to say that I think the way that I see this moving and the work being done on Aurora College with the inclusion of the councils, and such, that I believe it's in the right faith of what we discussed as a group when we first met back two years ago around this time, I guess a little bit earlier, to discuss our priorities and mandate. And so I'm excited to see that this is a piece of legislation that will now incorporate Indigenous voices and NWT voices in the college as it moves forward. So thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Any further comments? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, I'm not a Member of the committee but I sat in on a lot of the meetings and deliberations, and I want to thank them for putting up with me. But, no, I think this is another example of a collaborative approach with our friends across the aisle where, you know, there were concerns identified by a number of presenters and compromises were reached. And the Minister accepted, I think there was seven different motions for changes to the bill to, I think, get a better balance in a number of areas in terms of Indigenous peoples, their representation in this moving forward, balance of power between the board and the Minister. So I want to complement our colleague, the Minister of Education, for that work.
But I also want people to understand that this is like a small piece of a bigger picture in our move towards establishing a polytechnic university. What this bill really does is reestablish public governance at Aurora College, something that was taken away about three, four years ago in the last Assembly by the Minister, then Minister and so, certainly, I support this. But it is starting to cast the die or the mould moving forward in terms of a polytechnic university. But there still has to be a lot more work done in terms of the legislation to move towards the polytechnic university. But this is, I think, some good first steps and so I want to compliment the committee and the Minister. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Any further questions or comments? Seeing no comments, Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories speak to questions on codrafting legislation and comanagement beyond resourcemanagementbased legislation and discuss this concept with the NWT Council of Leaders. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion?
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.
Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and Aurora College take note of this request that engagement timelines are respectful and sufficient for stakeholders to support meaningful consultation and ensure that the timeframes for engagement and consultation concerning the polytechnic university are adequate. Thank you, Madam Chair.
The motion is in order. To the motion? Oh sorry, Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to make a comment that we are hearing in several of the committees that people are feeling a bit of engagement and consultation burnout and fatigue. So I just wanted to say that this, I think, is very important because while it does say that, yes, we are reaching out to all these people, if they're not feeling like they have the adequate time to respond and such, then are we really meeting the goals of engagement. So I just wanted to say that I strongly support this motion. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. To the motion? Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I think how much consultation and engagement and how long a process takes is really the debate of the entire GNWT on all matters, and it's not a delicate matter. The previous motion speaking to bringing things to the Council of Leaders, I ask that the government take that seriously and, clearly, this could be a legacy of this government as we find that balance.
On this situation of the polytechnic, I think committee, I fully support them, making sure everyone is properly engaged. I think in many ways we get one last shot at this to do this right, and in my ways some of the faults of Aurora College have been political interference in the past, an inability to be nimble. And I think there's a balance to be struck here, is that we have to make sure we have buyin from Indigenous governments and buyin from communities to the creation of this new polytechnic initially, because once the board is established I really hope that there will be no more political interference and they will be able to make decisions quickly. But let's get it right the first time, and we can all take pride in this. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. To the motion?
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.
Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to the recommendations contained in this report within 120 days. Thank you, Madam Chair.
The motion is in order. To the motion?
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.
Carried
Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Committee Report 2019(2), Standing Committee on Social Development, Report on Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We have concluded consideration of Committee Report 2019(2), Standing Committee on Social Development, Report on Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act. [Audio]
Committee, we've agreed to consider Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act. I will ask the Minister of Health and Social Services sorry, don't ask you.
Laughter
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to introduce the bill.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm here today to present Bill 30, an Act to Amend the Aurora College Act. I want to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for their interest in and review of this bill.
This bill will result in an arm's length governance system that supports an effective, efficient, and sustainable Aurora College positioned to continuously identify and respond to the needs of northern residents, Indigenous governments, partners, and stakeholders. It will also set the stage for further legislative change in 2024 to create the polytechnic university.
The creation of a polytechnic university is a priority of the 19th Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories mandate commits to transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university in six years, including meeting a quality assurance review by fall 2023. In order to meet this commitment, timely amendments of the Aurora College Act are required to establish a new system of governance that meets national standards and best practices.
Proposed amendments to the Aurora College Act before us are critical to the transformation process, and I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with standing committee during their review of the bill. I believe we worked together in the true spirit of consensus government.
I would also like to acknowledge the considerable input that has been provided by Indigenous governments, partners, stakeholders, and members of the public through the development of this bill.
The establishment of a tricameral model of governance and a competencybased board of governors will better position the college to identify and respond to the needs of northern residents. The establishment of an Indigenous Knowledge Holders Council, as part of the tricameral model, will ensure the NWT is a leader in incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, into a public institution that reflects the people it serves, including a largely Indigenous student population and a range of Indigenous research partners.
To be recognized as a university in the NWT, Aurora College will follow a process required under the Postsecondary Education Act, beginning with meeting the requirements of an external quality assurance review. Amendments to the governance system proposed in Bill 30 will meet the necessary quality assurance standards and best practices in postsecondary education governance needed for the external review.
That concludes my opening remarks, and I'd be happy to answer any questions that Members might have on this bill. And, Madam Chair, I have witnesses I would like to bring into the Chamber. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. SergeantatArms, please escort the witness to the Chamber.
Minister, please introduce your witnesses.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We have director of legislation division, Christina Duffy, and director of Aurora College Transformation, Dr. Chris Joseph. Thank you.
Thank you, welcome. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 30. Does committee agree that there are no further comments no comments? We can proceed to a clausebyclause review of the bill.
Agreed.
Committee, we will defer the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. We will consider the clauses in groups. Please turn to page 1 of the bill.
Clause 1 to 5, does committee agree?
---Clauses 1 through 14 inclusive approved
Committee, to the bill as a whole, does committee agree that Bill 30, an Act to Amend the Aurora College Act, is now ready for third reading?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Does the committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 30, an Act to Amend the Aurora College Act?
Agreed.
Thank you, Minister, and thank you to your witnesses. SergeantatArms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.
Member for Frame Lake.
Madam Chair, I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thanks.
There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and nondebatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried. I will now rise and report progress.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 43719(2), Committee Report 2019(2), Committee Report 2219(2), and Bill 30. And I'd like to report progress with 13 motions carried and that Committee Report 2019(2) and Committee Report 2219(2) are concluded; and that Bill 30 is ready for third reading; and that consideration of Tabled Document 43719(2) is concluded; and that the House concur on those estimates as amended and that an appropriation bill to be based thereon be introduced without delay. And, Mr. Speaker, I move that report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Do we have a seconder. Member for Hay River North. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? Motion is carried.
Carried
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orders of the day for Thursday, December 8th, 2021, 1: 30 p.m.
Prayer
Ministers' statements
Members' statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Oral Questions 846-19(2) Addictions, Aftercare and Mental Health Supports: Date of Question - December 1, 202
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral questions
Written questions
Return to written questions
Replies to Commissioner’s address
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Motions
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
Bill 29, Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act
Committee Report 21-19(2), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Government of the Northwest Territories Approach to the Mining Regime Fiscal Review
Committee Report 23-19(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Public Accounts
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House is adjourned until Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 4:49 p.m.
