Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm full of compliments today; here's one to Aurora College.
I went to their website recently, and I don't know if it's in response to my earlier questions several months ago or in the sense they were doing it anyway and just decided to do it better, I like what they've done with the timelines and the progress tracker on the work being done for the polytech.
Mr. Speaker, that being said -- not a criticism, just an observation. Mr. Speaker, on its website, it points out that they have a lot of things outstanding even though it shows it looks like they should been done or should be in the progress of doing, such as recruitment of marketing communication strategy development, release a polytech university five-year academic plan, and the last one is establish a new legislation -- establish new legislation for polytechnic university.
Mr. Speaker, all of these things look like they should have been started. I'm asking is this initiative still live, or is there some concerns that we need to know that there are delays that need to come to light to the public? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am sure Aurora College staff will be happy to hear the Member's compliments in regards to new legislation. That is certainly something that needs to be worked on in the life of this Assembly. And as the Member knows, Members have received an embargoed copy of the new mandate agreement which does have an implementation plan in it and that will be released publicly tomorrow -- later this week. Later this week. I don't -- yes, later this week. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, maybe to help the Minister, the old Minister used to say in the fullness of time, which if you were paying attention, that could mean any time. So needless to say, please don't use that further proof of what's happening.
Mr. Speaker, establishment of new legislation for a polytech university is the cornerstone of where it's going, defines it, and everything then comes out of it. In other words, its budgets, its plans, its mandate, etcetera, etcetera. It needs legislation to be real.
Mr. Speaker, when -- sorry, on the website, it says it will be released for completion obviously -- thank you, Mr. Speaker -- March 2025. Can the Minister update us on this initiative? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that new legislation will not be released in March of 2025. It still needs -- it's GNWT legislation so it still needs to go through GNWT protocols. It will be tabled in the House here and then will go to standing committee as per our usual protocols. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And for the record, I appreciate your guidance. Mr. Speaker, my question is when can Members expect this draft legislation to come forward for review? Again, I can't stress enough, nothing can really happen without it hence we're waiting and want to ensure that the process is moving forward.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when that legislation does take place, it creates much more separation between the government and Aurora College. I can assure the Member that work to lead us to that point is still happening. We are still going through the process of accreditation. We are still -- Aurora College is still working on its program development, is still working on its policies. They're still very much working towards all of these pieces that will lead to Polytechnic University Act, but there's a lot to be done between now and then, including accreditation, and other pieces that go along with it like their new college funding formula that will also be part of that. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
