Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The need for an independent and permanent Yellowknife Campus for Aurora College has been an issue that’s long overdue in our city. It’s a demand and something that people want. I’d like to reference the Slave River Journal, our fine Premier just the other day, it says that a northern university is something that needs to be looked at. I can reference the Globe and Mail, our Excellency Michaelle Jean said forcefully that we need a northern university. Even going back to 2006, the Minister of ECE said he will do a cost-benefit analysis to constructing a new college campus, and certainly their lease has been renewed in 2007, which expires in 2012. My question, with also the support of the board of governors and the former education Ministers suggesting we need an independent campus in Yellowknife for Aurora College: What has the Minister done to date or will he be able to update this Assembly on where this process is about establishing an independent Aurora College in Yellowknife?
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. First of all I think we need to be proud of our northern college that we have here in the North, the three campuses that we have. I would consider them as a college and also a university because we do deliver university programs, degree programs that we’re actively pursuing and other programs as well. So with the standalone university, I think we already see that in the Northwest Territories. Every time we meet with the board of governors, certainly that topic of discussion has been discussed and it’s part of a long-term planning basis for the whole Northwest Territories. So whether it be in Yellowknife, Inuvik or Fort Smith, those are the discussions that are ongoing.
I appreciate the Minister for answering every question, but the one I asked is: Where is the cost-benefit analysis on the process of looking at putting the Aurora College that’s downtown on its own independent campus to establish itself in its own right?
I do believe I answered the Member’s question on the college itself, the university that he is referring to. As I stated, we are still…It’s all preliminary right now. We’re working with the facts that we have before us. As the Member alluded to, previous Ministers have been discussing this. It was a discussion item at that time. We are working on that with the communities, with the board of governors as well. Because we can, certainly on that portion on our end alone, we continue to strive to make that part of the capital plans for the next few years.
Would the Minister be willing to supply that information provided through that cost-benefit analysis that was committed back in 2006 to be done, that would establish a view of establishing a long-term, permanent campus here in Yellowknife that’s independent?
Certainly I can provide…My department can provide the information that’s available to the Members, not just from the Yellowknife Centre Member but all Members as well. We do have the facts in place, the discussion paper that’s been discussed at that time and where we’re going with it. Also, the board of governors meeting that we had, the minutes of the meeting, there’s been a paper trail that’s been documented, so we can certainly provide that to the Members.
Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
The Minister said this issue is raised every time he meets with the board of governors and he’s certainly said that this is a long-term plan of, I assume, his department or the focus of this government. What exactly is the long-term plan and what is his response to the board of governors in reflection of that long-term plan about establishing an independent campus here in Yellowknife on its own property and its own facility to help our students?
Certainly part of the long-term plans that we talked about within our department and also with the board of governors with Aurora College is strengthening our program delivery through Aurora College. The three campuses that we have here in the Northwest Territories, we need to strengthen that and make it exposed to all the students that are here in the Northwest Territories. Also, we have students from outside the Northwest Territories that attend our college as well. It has been a northern college recognition also going on to national recognition as a college. We do offer university courses as well. But this will be part of our strategic direction going forward. How can we develop a plan where we have a university in the Northwest Territories?
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
