Debates of February 17, 2026 (day 82)

February
17
2026
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
82
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 42: Tlego'hli Got'ine Final SelfGovernment Agreement Act
Bill 43: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 20252026, Carried
Bill 43: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Bill 43: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Deem Read
Bill 44: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 20252026, Carried
Bill 44: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations, Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Bill 44: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations, Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2025-2026, Deem Read
Member's Statement 895-20(1): Aurora College Recommendations
Member's Statement 896-20(1): Public Administrator Shortfalls
Member's Statement 897-20(1): Yellowknife Citizens for Ceasefire National Day of Action Rally
Member's Statement 898-20(1): Mackenzie Valley Highway Regulations Collaboration
Member's Statement 899-20(1): Jordan's Principle Funding
Member's Statement 900-20(1): Treaty Obligations for Healthcare
Member's Statement 901-20(1): Thank You to Colleagues
Member's Statement 902-20(1): Economic Uncertainty for Tlicho Citizens
Member's Statement 903-20(1): Senior Envoy to the Government of Canada
Member's Statement 904-20(1): Western Arctic Marine Training Centre Bridge Watch Rating Graduation
Member's Statement 905-20(1): Notice of Intent to Proceed with Bill 3
Minister's Statement 181-20(1): Homelessness Strategy
Motion 66-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 24, 2026, Carried
Question 1056-20(1): Medical Travel
Question 1057-20(1): Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Question 1058-20(1): Speech Language Pathologist Services Offered in School
Question 1059-20(1): Diamond Mine Assset Retirement and Repurposing
Question 1060-20(1): Early Learning and Child Care Centres Statistical Data Collection
Question 1061-20(1): Mackenzie Valley Highway Economic Development
Question 1062-20(1): Sustainable Employment following Diamond Mine Closures
Question 1063-20(1): Higher Education in the Northwest Territories
Question 1064-20(1): Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Services
Question 1065-20(1): Community Navigators in Smaller Communities
Question 1066-20(1): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Deficits
Question 1067-20(1): Treaty Rights to Education
Question 1068-20(1): Post-Secondary Education Funding
Question 1069-20(1): Health System Sustainability Unit
Question 1070-20(1): "Hold and Secure" Policies in Schools
Recorded Vote
Report 35-20(1): Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories
Tabled Document 471-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 25-20(1): Report on the Review of Bill 26: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act
Tabled Document 472-20(1): Securing Canada's Link to the Arctic - The National Defence and Security Benefits of the Mackenzie Valley Highway Project
Statements

Question 1068-20(1): Post-Secondary Education Funding

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to continue on the thread earlier regarding post-secondary. I know the Minister -- one of the tasks is getting the post-secondary funding formula in place. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister share an update with us on the dates and process involved in that and when we can expect to see it. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, the post-secondary institution funding formula, specifically for Aurora College, is something that would flow from the legislation. The legislation itself would have information about what is expected of the institution and funding that would potentially come from that. And so that is work that would follow the legislation that needs to be developed first. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I was looking for was perhaps an update on how that work is going, where we're at with it, and when we expect it to come to the floor. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, the legislation itself needs to follow the CAQC process. So the CAQC process is currently underway between Aurora College and the CAQC. Once we receive a recommendation either way from the CAQC, we would be able to proceed from there, and that will help form the detail that would be found in the legislation. The legislation then needs to be tabled in this House and go through the process that is laid out by this House. And once that is passed, it would come after that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And if the Minister could comment a bit on how that funding formula might be used to enhance accountability with the college and align funding with the results that we're looking for, speaking to what I was speaking to earlier today. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, we have developed a framework within education, culture and employment that holds post-secondary institutions accountable. It uses metrics. We've just started that in the life of this Assembly. That's information that would continue to flow, and certainly metrics like that, success metrics, would be used in research that would be used to develop a school funding formula as well down the road. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.