Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had the pleasure yesterday of meeting with the folks from Dechinta and they expressed, very well by the way, their desire about continuing in their program here in the Northwest Territories and they cited about their need of support, and support means cash, obviously, but it also means enabling legislation.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, what work is being done on developing legislation that could allow Dechinta to create its own northern university? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Aurora College and Dechinta have been working very closely together. Both institutions, both facilities deliver degree programming through southern institutions. So they’re not recognized as a degree-granting institution, but they are involved in a partnership with southern institutions. So they allow that through our campuses with a partnership for another two years in a southern institution.
So, in order to change that, we have to change our legislation in order to recognize the institution to be granting degree programming into our facilities. Those are the processes that have been discussed with Dechinta and Aurora College institution as well. Thank you.
My understanding is that some of these questions were asked last week, but there’s certainly no reason not to ask these questions again and ensure we get clear policy direction from the Department of Education and to show that we’re moving in the right direction.
So, when can we see something that would create enabling legislation so that this organization can be a stand-alone university in the Northwest Territories? They’re working very hard with the University of Alberta and the McGill University. They’ve also told me that they have in the range of 22 Ph.D. professor types who will work in partnership here in the Northwest Territories. They don’t need bricks and mortar; they need legislation. So, I just want to see what support our government is getting behind and when can we see an aspect of legislation come forward? Thank you.
As indicated earlier, we are working very closely with the Dechinta stakeholder, the owner of Dechinta. I just met with her at the Skills for Success symposium. We talked about the process; we talked about the business planning process; we talked about the legislation, how there has to be a process in play. I did mention to her that the college is working very closely with her, so there is a process in place in order to make those changes in this House. So, time is of the essence.
Those are the processes that we continue to work with the stakeholders. Mahsi.
I think I heard the word “process” four or five times there. I didn’t actually count. When will we see this process actually emerge to a result? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, obviously we’re at the end of our budget session. In order for this to happen, we have to deal with the stakeholders. It’s not only Dechinta, it’s Aurora College and other organizations that need to have their input as well. So, more than likely it won’t happen during the life of this Assembly. But in the transition period for the next Assembly, this is a discussion that more than likely will happen. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Speaker, respectfully I say I fail to understand why this sort of looming election always affects the work we’re doing in the Northwest Territories. It continues to be the overriding well, we can’t work on this because we have an election. Frankly, the bureaucracy’s machinery keeps grinding forward day after day after day. It doesn’t care who the politicians are. The process and the bureaucracy keeps working forward every day for us. Politicians are talking heads of departments, that’s all.
So, I’m asking what type of time frame can we see a legislative proposal or document that the public can see. It doesn’t matter if we have an election; what matters is the department is working on it and when can we see it. Thank you.
As I stated, these are the discussions that we’re currently having with the people who are involved, whether it be Dechinta, the college or my department. In order to push through legislation within this House, there has to be considerable consultation. It won’t just happen at the snap of a finger, Mr. Speaker. So, those are discussions we are currently having.
As I stated, there is a process in place. Yes, I may have mentioned four times the process. It’s very important to have a process in place to deliver those key messages, key deliveries into our legislation. Mahsi.
