Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'm so happy that the Member from Monfwi brought this up. This is certainly very top of mind. I know that a lot of us in this House have had an opportunity to have really incredible relationships with a lot of the interpreters in this House. And, you know, they do far more than interpret for us. They definitely also take care of our hearts on a daily basis. And so I know that a lot of us get some pretty good hugs coming into this room and a good reset from a lot of the people who, you know, surround us and do such a good job of reminding us why we're here on a daily basis. And so I really appreciate the Member bringing that up.
In addition to -- and sorry, let me take a step back. So those relationships and the succession planning that needs to happen for the interpreters in this building is something that is incredibly important to both the Speaker and I, and so we have been sitting down and having lunches every session when we're here in the House with myself and the Speaker and both of our staff, so clerk's office staff and then also education, culture and employment staff, because we want to work with the interpreters in this building to find out, first of all, what are their suggestions because, really, they are such -- they're not just language champions. They're language experts. And so we have so much to learn from them in order to learn how we can put together a program that really fuels language in this building. But it's not just about what happens in this building as well. It's about what happens outside this building and really creating language communities right across the territory.
And so last week, I also had the opportunity to sit down with our official languages board and made a commitment to them that, absolutely, I want for all of us at the end of our time together -- because they're on terms as well. But we're all here because we want to see good work done and so it takes us working together in order to make sure that we are doing meaningful work and at the end of the day have something to show for it.
And so all that to say there, absolutely as far as succession planning, there are good conversations happening in terms of a deliverable, like a course at Aurora College. We now have Dr. Angela James as the president of Aurora College. She comes from the Indigenous languages secretariat. So me saying that she definitely has a very personal interest in the success of language in the territory, I don't think I'm speaking out of turn. And so where we're at right now is in order -- so Aurora College does have an intent to have -- take up a space within language development in the Northwest Territories, and I have made the commitment that when they have that program ready, to bring it forward to the financial management board for the funding that we removed from this budget. But I couldn't keep hanging on to funding that we weren't using for the purposes that we committed to this House for using, so I in good -- in -- you know, in respect of the processes that we have here in the House, let go of that funding so we could put it to something that was actually appropriated by this House. But absolutely, I continue to have meetings with Aurora College. Just had one yesterday. Indigenous languages did come up as well. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Monfwi.
Well, yeah -- well, that's a good information to know. And it's not just only with the Indigenous -- with Aurora College, but this could be done in partnership with the Indigenous government or organizations because the schools are doing their part, but we need more. And it's kind of disappointing that, you know -- that we had to get rid of that program. But it would be nice if we can build on other programs to promote the Indigenous language. It doesn't have to be in the regional centre but each region can do their own. But I think this is where the partnership is important with the Indigenous government or organizations to preserve our language.
So, yeah, and it's kind of disappointing where that broadcasting is reduced too as well because that was another -- there's a lot of Indigenous elders, they listen, and some of our young people listen to those programs as well. And it's -- it is important. So I just -- it's more of a comment.
But I would like to see some kind of a program in -- maybe within the next fiscal budget, partner -- create a partnership with the Indigenous government to see how we can bring some of those programs back to revive our language. Thank you.
Thank you. Minister, would you like to respond? Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, what I think is really important to capture here is that there's over $5 million a year that the GNWT receives from the federal government specifically for Indigenous languages, and that funding is funneled straight to Indigenous governments, and Indigenous governments determine what their programs -- their community-based programs will do and certainly have the support of ECE for that.
I absolutely agree with the Member that revitalization of Indigenous languages across the territory is incredibly important and is one that we need to take seriously and we need to take it seriously right now. So what we have, as well, within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, is a brand new ADM position that was supported by this House. That position is specifically for languages and culture. And I can tell you that the individual who very excitedly accepted that role has not had a spare minute since he walked into it. He was with me last week as we sat with the official languages board. It was a very busy week last week as far as Indigenous language revitalization is concerned, and we were also able to celebrate all of our MAP pairs and MAP partners.
And so even though Aurora College is not yet doing a specific Indigenous languages course or diploma course, there's still good work being done both from Indigenous governments and then also through the mentor apprenticeship program that pairs people up so people are -- have the opportunity in a very organized fashion to be going through language training.
And some of the interpreters in this House are some of the mentors that work in that program. So, I mean, I can't celebrate the interpreters that we have in this Legislative Assembly enough. They really are the best of the best, and I very much appreciate the work they do, not only in here, but also in communities as well. Mahsi.
Thank you. No further questions? Please turn to page 59.
Education, Culture and Employment, languages and culture, operations expenditure summary, 2025-2026 Main Estimates, $16,567,000. Does the committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Are there any -- there are additional information items on page 63 to 69. Are there any questions? Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I just have a couple questions, one on the Aurora College programs and services.
Obviously, as you read through this document, you can see they, you know, highlight the 21 community learning centres. It speaks about the college providing community-based adult literacy and adult-based education programs. So given the recent announcement by the board of directors for Aurora College that they'll no longer be supporting the adult learning centres, I'm wondering if the Minister now has a plan on how that -- the department will be taking on that mandated item to assure that those -- that important work continues to get done? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, certainly appreciate the Member referencing that the community learning centres are still captured within our main estimates book. Certainly the announcement from Aurora College came after the books were printed and in all of our hands, so that change is not reflected here.
So regardless of whether or not Aurora College plans to operate the 21 community learning centres, there is still a responsibility for adult learning and basic education across the Northwest Territories and from the perspective of the department of education, a mandate to ensure that education is accessible in communities. And so currently we're working with Aurora College to understand if their plan does still basically accommodate the mandate. Thank you.
Thank you. We'll go to the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Madam Chair. No, and I appreciate that, but I think the college made it fairly clear that their mandate does not to support that, that they are going to shut down, indeed, the adult literacy and basic education programs. So I guess further than waiting for the college to say, yes, we are going to do it, because they basically said they were, is this something that the department, the Minister's going to commit to ensuring that if that's the case that we do continue to use these learning centres and keep them open? Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, what the Aurora College has said to this point is that the existing mode of delivery for courses through the community learning centres has not been working and that they want to re-envision what this looks like. So they've not said that they are completely vacating the adult education space. They have said they are going to be doing it different. So where I'm at right now is determining if their plan does meet the needs of the mandate of education, culture and employment. So I can't answer that here on the floor of the House right now. But they have not said that they are completely vacating the adult education space. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you. No, and I appreciate that. I think the information that was relayed to myself and certainly the information that we read in the media certainly said that the programs were going to be shut down. If, indeed, the college is looking at either working through NGOs, working with Indigenous governments to continue that program as it exists but maybe through different bodies, I'd certainly be interested in hearing that. But I guess, then, Madam Chair, then if the -- you know, if that's the case, if they are not indeed committed to shutting it down, and I would have hoped that, you know, the college would -- even if they were considering shutting it down, rather than making an announcement that they're going to be closing the learning centres, it would have been nice to say take a year if they want to evaluate it and evaluate it, and see what other options are out there. But that certainly wasn't what was presented to us. It was that this is not working. You know, we have three options. We could continue as it is, we can review it, or we can shut it down, which is basically the nuclear option, and that was the perception that's out there that that's the option they're taking. So if that's not the case, I'm happy to hear from that the Minister, and I'm hoping we can move forward and ensure that we continue to keep these centres open. So I guess my next question would be, then -- I mean, obviously we fund Aurora College to the tune of $35 million. $34 million last year, 35. A portion of that funding, Madam Chair, obviously, it goes towards to keep these centres open and to fund these centres. If, indeed, the college does decide that they're not going to be funding these learning centres, are we going to be looking at pulling certainly a portion of the funding that would be -- that would be directed towards these learning centres? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, I want to be clear that Aurora College indicated that they would not be keeping the bricks and mortar facilities open as part of their new plan. They have yet to divulge what their plan will look like going forward.
I also know that myself, along with the Aurora College board and chair, as well as the Aurora College president, will be at a briefing with standing committee I believe next week, next Thursday, and so certainly look forward to sitting with Aurora College as they inform committee of what their plans are.
As far as the dollars, so for adult learning and basic education, there is a memorandum of understanding between Education, Culture and Employment and Aurora College that money -- sorry, it does come with money that is disbursed to Aurora College in the form of a contribution agreement. And so once we see exactly how Aurora College intends to fulfill that memorandum of understanding and what parts of it they intend to fulfill, then we can determine how much of the contribution agreement is appropriate for them to continue to receive and what, if any, is not. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you to the Minister for that. And it's good to hear that she's -- the department or the Minister's at least considering that may, indeed, be an option. Certainly, you know, part of the funding is for bricks and mortar and bricks and mortar cost money to maintain, so certainly part of that budget, I assume would be included for bricks and mortar. And I as well look forward to the update from the college to the justification as to why they made this move and to kind of shed some light because it certainly, Madam Chair, has caused a lot of concern, certainly not only through my riding, through my colleagues' ridings as well, and certainly through some of the ridings of the Members across the House as well. So I look forward to that presentation, Madam Chair. Thank you.
Thank you. Would the Minister like to respond to that?
I look forward to the presentation as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Next, I have Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Continuing a little bit along that line in terms of the transfer -- or the allocation of funding given to Aurora College, so last year we -- this Assembly provided an extra half a million dollars to Aurora College to support the transformation process to a polytechnic. Does the Minister know what we have to show for the half a million dollars that was given in the last fiscal year in terms of what progress has been made by Aurora College? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, there's certainly annual reports that do come out of Aurora College every year where they show a breakdown of their revenues and they also show a breakdown of, for example, what is spent on transformation versus what is spent on number of students at the college.
As far as the -- well, first of all, I will note it hasn't been a full year that they have had that funding either so that funding would have been appropriated around November 1st following our fall sitting, and it would be worthwhile during our meeting next week asking about that because at this point I would not -- I would not yet have received reporting on that. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member for Yellowknife North.
Okay, thank you to the Minister for that response, and I do think we should follow up in our direct meeting with Aurora College.
Does the Minister have an idea of what we should expect to see in terms of value for money for that extra half a million? I know in total, Aurora College transformation in the last fiscal year it was just over a million but Regular Members lobbied for, you know, bumping it up from what it had been budgeted for because we have said over and over again that the Aurora College transformation is important. Does the Minister even know what we're -- what we should expect to see for that, say, million dollars in total from Aurora College? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, it was curriculum -- essentially curriculum development dollars for Aurora College. It was dollars that had been previously afforded through a federal agreement, I believe, with CIRNAC. Those dollars had sunset. The college then approached Regular Members letting them know that they wanted that funding reinstated. I believe the previous funding was to the tune of about $534,000, and then Regular Members put back in about 500 -- well, not about -- exactly $500,000. Regular Members were the ones that negotiated that and really fought for it, and so the expectation of what should be received for that I would put back on Regular Members as to what their expectations were to receive for that money that they negotiated. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, I'll leave it there for now, and I think it will be a really important discussion that's coming up when we get Aurora College directly in the room to chat with them. Thank you.
Thank you. Next, I have Member for Yellowknife Centre.
I didn't have it this time.
Okay, all right. Next we go to Range Lake, Member for Range Lake.
Thank you. We sit too close to each other. Anyway, confusing people. So I also have questions of Aurora College.
The Minister just said that one of the -- sorry, when looking at adult education and the closure of the community learning centres -- not just, but earlier said that we need to make sure that their programming meets the needs of ECE. Can she explain what she means by that. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, there's still a responsibility to ensure that adult education is accessible in communities across the Northwest Territories. And so that's what I'm referring to, is at the end of the day we have a contribution agreement with Aurora College that speaks to adult learning and basic education. And if the pieces of that contribution agreement and MOU are not being satisfied to their full extent, then obviously we need to figure out how the funding responds to that. And then if there is a gap left over, how that would be addressed by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member for Range Lake.
Thank you. So how much funding then -- adult education funding is attached to that MOU in dollar terms? Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
It's literally sitting on my desk upstairs, Madam Chair. I don't want to say a number and get it wrong on the floor, but I would be happy to ensure that I have those numbers with me when I am in front of committee with Aurora College next week. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member for Range Lake.
Yeah, thank you. And I think that's the number in question that Members are taking issue with continuing to provide to the college. So I'd like to know it for sure.
Now, the mandate letter that the Minister provided to the college is adult education -- I don't have the benefit of having it in front of me, but is adult education in that mandate letter? Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much. Learning for residents is certainly referenced in the mandate letter, but the specific details of what that looks like and with our agreement with Aurora College is found within the memorandum of understanding. Thank you.
I'll go to the Member for Range Lake.
Thank you. So when was the Minister -- so I've heard that -- obviously we were all surprised when the decision was made and caught off guard. But my understanding is that this was not a completely novel idea, that there had been talks about this programming. So when was the Minister made aware that Aurora College was considering closing the community learning centres? Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
