Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, July 31st of 2023, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment approved Aurora College's request to become a polytechnic university. And now we're hearing that there's a concern that there's never been appropriate funding for this transition.
So can the Minister today's Minister of Education, Culture and Employment tell us does the department feel that that request there's enough support behind that request that they approved previously last year, and are yeah, let's just start there. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it would really be up to the college to let me know what their needs are versus what they're receiving from the department. As I have not received a request for additional funding in any formal capacity at this point, it's hard for me to speak to whether or not they have the resources that they need and what those additional resources might be.
In addition to the $8 million from the federal government, the $1 million a year over the last four years as well from the GNWT, there was also the staffing of the eight positions that did a substantial amount of the work in conjunction with Aurora College staff in a teambased approach to be able to put together a lot of the material needed to go through transformation. So there still is a significant amount of work, though, left to do, and I want to make sure that the college has the ability to get through that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess if the Aurora College has to come to the department to make a request, I would assume there's some evaluation that goes into that request before they sign off on it. But that's not this Minister's responsibility, so I will ask another question.
The new Act that would that will govern Aurora College is scheduled to come into force on March 30th, 2025. Are we still on track is the department still on track to bring that legislation forward and have it in force at that date? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like the opportunity to look at where all the deliverables are in the milestones for Aurora College and come back to the Member on that question so that I can make sure that I'm giving him the most up to date information based on some of the delays that have occurred. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I mean, are we on track to launch the new Aurora College on May 15th, 2025; will that happen? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this point there have been a few delays in the project, and it's anticipated that there will be a delay in the May 2025 launch date that was originally published. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is this government committed to ensuring the Aurora College transformation is successful? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm definitely committed because I see the great value in this project. I want to ensure that I am providing the support that I can provide to the board of governors who really is in charge of the operations of the college and the remaining work that remains to be done as far as transformation is concerned. I think it's really important, though, to note that the process of going through transformation is not just about a shiny new campus or anything like that. It also has to do with the programming that's being offered by Aurora College and being able to develop that and being able to make sure that we're offering degree programs at Aurora College and that the college is offering what students are looking for in the Northwest Territories. So it's also about the programming. It's not just about the bricks and mortar of an institution. And I think that those for me are what is really exciting for the evolution and transformation of the college. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Tu NedheWiilideh.
