Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s certainly a pleasure to ask questions here today. Although I did some of my Member’s statement in Chip, my questions will not be in Chip. Although I’m sure Mr. Beaulieu helped me very greatly. I want to give him special credit and thanks for that help.
The question I’m going to be raising here today is in my Member’s statement I talked about the importance of the Social Work Program. In the Northwest Territories we have a two-year diploma program, and in order for a student to seek a degree in this particular program, they have to continue the third and fourth year in a southern institution and I believe many of them use a university in Regina.
My question, really, for the Minister: What would it take to get on the education agenda, the Aurora College agenda, an evaluation of basing a full four-year program here in the Northwest Territories so our students who choose to take the Social Work Program can take it here in the North where they want to work, where they want to live?
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I guess part of the process would be for those students and also the community members who are interested in having a four-year degree-granting program delivered in the Northwest Territories, then that message can be delivered through the college, the venue. In order to make that happen, our legislation has to change as well.
Currently, we have three college campuses that currently deliver a diploma program, two years, and then they either continue with a third and fourth year degree social work or an option for them to pursue the workforce area. That has happened in the past and they continue with their distance learning, as well, and they eventually obtain their degree program. Those are just some of the areas that students or community members can access through the college.
I would kind of like to hear how the Minister wants to create this type of change. He said there was a legislative issue there. The Northwest Territories, through Aurora College, found a way with the teachers, found a way through our nursing program. Why can we find a way through this path?
I’m asking the Minister: What is he willing to do and what can he do to help ensure that the students in the Northwest Territories who want a Social Work Program, a full program, can obtain this opportunity here in the North where they want, in their home, in the North, where they want to do their work in their community?
As I stated, this is an area that the college is fully aware. We’re currently delivering a bachelor of education through our southern partners, and even through the Social Work Program, the diploma program…(inaudible)… southern institution along with other degree-granting programs with our southern institutions. We don’t have the legislation to grant the degrees in the Northwest Territories at this point, but this is an area that the college, I’m fully aware, is exploring, having a survey to the students and community members on which programs should be delivered as a degree-granting program in the Northwest Territories. It is in the works and I’m looking forward to the outcome of their feedback.
I’m going to use the opportunity to remind the Minister that he’s in charge of the legislation and he could move the legislative initiative forward. Once again, as the Minister, clearly he’s aware that this is an option here for the Northwest Territories. Clearly, he’s already said there are discussions going on, and frankly, I want to hear what he is willing to do, because I kind of get tired of how we talk about how we can’t do things. I remember the excitement when we all ran into this building and said how we will do things.
What is the Minister willing to do so we can work towards getting the social work program a full degree program here in the Northwest Territories?
What I’m willing to do is listen to the students and listen to community members on which area we should focus on, whether it be a bachelor of education, whether it be social work, the nursing degree-granting program or other specialized degree programs here in the Northwest Territories. Those are the people who are taking those courses. We need to listen to them. That’s what we’re doing at the current stage, having a survey from the college perspective, to hear and also receive feedback from the students who are taking these programs.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Speaker, the students have been saying this for years. The instructors at the college have been saying this for years. What will it take from the Minister to finally break through and realize how important this particular option and opportunity is? I’m willing to go get a survey. Does he want 100 names on a petition? Does he want 1,000 names? You tell us what we’ll do and we’ll help him do his job. That’s all I want. Frankly, what does the Minister need from us to help him realize how important this degree program is and we’ll go out and do it. Maybe he can tell us what will make the difference.
Mahsi. The program that we’re currently delivering, the Social Work Diploma Program, is working effectively and efficiently. We’re graduating students. Beyond that they’re going to southern institutions to get their degree programming and then they’re moving back to the North to work for us. We have internship programs where we’ve hired all these students as well.
So, it is a very successful diploma program. We’re doing really well with our college programming. There’s always room for improvement. This is an area that we are currently exploring. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short… No, you you’ve already had your questions, Mr. Hawkins. Nice try.
---Laughter
The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.
