Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I did have a few comments in respect to the top part of page 19 on Arctic College. The authors of the report indicated that the campus structure of the college be rationalized. I totally agree with that recommendation. I just feel that, first of all, the college has evolved to the point where they have six campuses across the Territories, and I do not believe that our financial environment will allow us to continue in that route. I believe the structure of the college has to be rationalized for the amount of funding we are giving and going to be looking at in the future.
There is a lot of concern about the fact that there is duplication of courses being delivered at these colleges, and it is starting to not only cost a lot, but you are at times delivering the types of courses that could be delivered with different methods used. I take, for example, the social services course. Apparently there is one being delivered at Iqaluit campus and one at Thebacha, and I have been advised that the one in Iqaluit has good community concepts in the course, whereas the one at Thebacha has good theory concepts being delivered in the course, so they are not being delivered in the same fashion and in the same manner, and I think this must be somewhat difficult for people to decide what course they want to go and take.
I feel that the campus structure of the college has grown to the point where I do not think this government can afford to continue to keep dealing with Arctic College in the way that it has been. I think we have to look at the financial reality that we are in, and there is no doubt, in my opinion, that there should be only two colleges in the North. I have always said that. There should be one in the East and one in the West. Without hesitation, I state that the college in the West should be in Fort Smith because that is where it began.
Mr. Chairman, the other area I want to talk about is that the college is certainly looking at funding priorities for adult basic upgrading. I certainly find that with the high rate of illiteracy in the Territories, it is a necessity. I want to indicate that I certainly support the adult basic upgrading, but I do not believe that these adult basic upgrading courses should mean that there should be a campus at these locations. I am of the opinion that adult basic upgrading should be part of the school system program and question whether or not it should be part of Arctic College. This decision was made a few years ago.
Some of the problems I have come to recognize since this course has been placed in Arctic College are that it is encouragement for young students to drop out of school when they get to the grade 10 level, knowing that if they wait for a couple of years they can go to Arctic College and obtain access to the student programs which will pay them to learn. I think this is wrong. I believe we have to look at reconsidering whether or not the adult basic upgrading should be defined in criteria or look at the idea that it should stay with other grade levels as opposed to the secondary level of education. These are my comments on Arctic College, Mr. Chairman.
"Northwest Territories Way" Of Concern To Constituents
My comments with respect to health services and facilities, I am very, very concerned about the Department of Health being given the encouragement to continue with the "Northwest Territories Way." I have heard many concerns expressed by my constituents with regard to the implementation of the "Northwest Territories Way." They feel that the model for the delivery system and rationalization for hospital facilities is looked at totally with the idea to do away with some particular hospitals in the Territories that have been in place for years by downgrading them to small nursing stations. I do not think this is right. Further discussion of the "Northwest Territories Way" has to take place in this House because of the fact that it is a very important model being proposed by the health delivery system.
Mr. Chairman, as I go on to some of the comments with respect to page 19, it indicates at the bottom of the page some of the concerns regarding Ministers being disciplined, and the difficulty of having solidarity on cabinet. I have two different viewpoints on it. First of all, your solidarity on cabinet reflects the way the Government Leader runs cabinet. I can state without hesitation that I feel the current Government Leader has the loyalties needed and the solidarity of a cabinet team to run this government effectively, but I will not say that for the previous government. However, I want to stress that there has been a concern among Members to ensure the solidarity is followed through by cabinet Members. Cabinet Ministers must seriously consider submitting their undated letter of resignation to the Government Leader.
Motion That All Ministers Submit Undated Letters Of Resignation To Be Tabled In The House
With this comment, Mr. Chairman, I move the following motion: that all Members of cabinet submit their undated letter of resignation to the Government Leader; and further, that the Government Leader table all the letters.