Jackson Lafferty

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...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, this weekend there’s going to be hand games in Behchoko. This is going to be an annual game. There are going to be 19 communities in the hand games: Behchoko, Whati, Gameti, Detah, Ndilo, Lutselk’e, Deline, Tulita, Fort Good Hope, Colville Lake, Norman Wells, Hay River Reserve, Fort Smith, Wrigley, Fort Simpson, Bushie River, Alberta; Chateh, Alberta; Meander, Alberta; Ross River, Yukon. Those are the teams that are going to be competing in the hand games in Behchoko tomorrow.

I know there are other teams that still have to register, but there is...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents, entitled “Public Review of Devolution Legislation” and “The Honourable Robert R. McLeod Meeting with Outside Parties, January 2014 to February 2015.”

I wish to table the following document, entitled “Aurora College Annual Report 2013-2014.” Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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.

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...

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.

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...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize some of the folks in the gallery. They are part of the Tlicho Community Services Agency. It’s been 10 years in the making since the Tlicho Land Claim came into effect, so they’ve been working diligently and the board members are here with us. I’d just like to recognize Mr. Ted Blondin, who is the chair of the Tlicho Community Services Agency. Also, Gloria Ekendia-Gon is a Gameti representative; and Mr. Ted Nitsiza, a representative from Whati. Next to him is Mary Adelle Football from Wekweeti, a representative. Also, I’d just like to...

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.

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.