Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if she could give this House an update where the polytech is on the work plan of the department and the college and when can we see some type of movement forward on this particular initiative that's important to the growth of training and education in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the mandate agreement that was issued in collaboration with the Aurora College board of governors earlier this year, there is a timeline associated with it, in the back of it, that shows all of our milestones that we intend to reach, and we are on task to reaching them together. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wouldn't call that esoteric but there was some interesting -- I didn't follow any of that language other than there's a timeline, we're meeting the timeline, and the timeline's on time. I mean, you know, what public information can be delivered in this House today as to where or what we can expect? In other words, have they met all their qualifications to now transition formally into a polytech? Are they doing a public announcement in the next six months or three months that they will be talking about the next phase such as how do they fully transition Aurora College to a -- like, those kinds of things. I think the public is curious as to where it is in this point in time because the topic has disappeared. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to be respectful of trying to keep my time low.
So in the implementation plan in the mandate agreement, it starts with identify first the made-in-the North degree, so the very first one for Aurora College. They identified that in the spring to Members of this House and have subsequently identified it publicly as well as their Bachelor of business administration specializing in Indigenous governance, which we're all very excited about and very excited to see that come.
They are currently working on their process with Campus Alberta Quality Council application. That process is due to start this fall. And they've signalled, you know, who they want on their team, which is part of the process. And now they are working to align schedules with the Campus Alberta Quality Council. So that as well is still on time.
The board of governors continues to work together on moving forward with both infrastructure, their federal engagement, establishing mechanisms for third party funding, and continues also to work on their program expansion. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd qualify that as the third best answer I've heard today. So that was pretty good.
So, Mr. Speaker, the next question is simply this: Is the government, is the Minister, is the department, still committed to this project? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day the transformation really is about offering programs that Northerners want to see and that we as a territory need for people to have access to. So those are things like continuing with nursing, reinstating the education program, and beyond that especially within the trades. And so absolutely we're committed to the education of northern students. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
