Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my questions, again, are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, but this time I want to ask about Aurora College and the transition to a polytechnic university.
So the college has announced that the transition to a polytechnic university will be significantly delayed. And we hear from the college that it's because of inadequate funding from governments. We hear from the ECE Minister that it's up to the board of governors now, they're arm's length. So my question to the Minister is who can we hold accountable for the delay in the polytechnic transition? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this House the board of governors does not have a seat and so you get to hold me accountable. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's a clear commitment and statement that is certainly welcomed to everyone.
My second question is that the transition team that was set up for the polytechnic university transition, I know that it has now been disbanded, the transition team that was within ECE. Were there goals or benchmarks set for what that team needed to accomplish before it was disbanded? And if so, were those goals met? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the transformation team had a goal to accomplish 66 goals, 66 milestones. They accomplished all of them. There are a total of 80 milestones. And since the transformation team was disbanded, the college itself has completed three milestones. So that is since November of 2023. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Member from Yellowknife North.
Okay. I mean, my next question is what tools does the Minister have to be able to hold the board of governors of Aurora College accountable to actually finish the transition to a polytechnic university by a certain date given that their funding is coming from our budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the most significant tool that I have at my fingertips is the mandate letter that is issued to the board. That letter has or the next letter, because the one that is an interim letter expires in July so the next reiteration of that has been jump started by myself through a letter to the board of governors. And what tools does this Assembly have? This Assembly approves the budget, and that budget goes to Aurora College. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary and final supplementary for today's oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So does the GNWT have a line in the sand, like a date by which the polytechnic university must be established? And what would be the consequence to Aurora College if that goal is not met? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think this is a really exciting opportunity for the Northwest Territories to be able to transition into a polytechnic. Because I think that there is this idea that we're talking about bricks and mortar. But what we're talking about is really important programming that lends to building a solid economic foundation. And so absolutely I will acknowledge that the milestones are definitely delayed. That is quite clear as to where the transformation is at right now, and I really look forward to working with the college and the board of governors to getting that back on track and seeing how we can support one another to achieve our common goals. Thank you.
