Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The residents of the Northwest Territories as a whole has been hit hard with the recent announcements of closures of the community learning centres by the board of governors of Aurora College. Without any community consultation, we are experiencing cuts in smaller communities yet again. This decision shows that the smaller communities do not matter in the development of our territory's economy.
Mr. Speaker, I have been approached by many residents of the Beaufort Delta region, both in person and by social media, and asking why this decision was made without prior consultation. I explained that this decision was not made by the department of ECE but by the board of governors of Aurora College who is at arm's length away from the GNWT. The response that I received was it does not matter who made the decision, this wrong needs to be made right for the benefit of the smaller communities and its residents.
Mr. Speaker, I have heard stories from employees about the uncertainty of their immediate future for themselves, their families, and their respective communities, employees who have given their time and resources to better their communities and their fellow residents. Some of these employees have given 20 years of their lives to try and be part of the development of the Northwest Territories, and yet they do not know what the immediate future holds for them and their families. There is some employees who broke down in tears because of the uncertainty that was bestowed upon them without being consulted prior to this announcement.
Mr. Speaker, in every tough decision that is made in regards to the negative impacts of our smaller communities and its residents, we should see some opportunity - opportunity to give our residents hope. With this untimely decision, we must think of the bigger picture and consult with the employees, the communities, and the residents who are negatively impacted by this controversial decision and make things right for a brighter immediate future. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.
