Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is too bad the Minister of Education is not present because this report pertains to his portfolio, but I will proceed anyway.

The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions, under the authority given to it by this House, has been reviewing matters related to Arctic College. Throughout the review process the standing committee has been focusing on the following aspects:

the mandate, composition, organizational structure and function of the board of governors of Arctic College and its various committees; working relationships between the board of governors and the Department of Education; the operation of Arctic College, particularly related to the administrative planning, the establishment of priorities, and the development of a framework for the delivery of educational services and programs; pertinent legislation, regulations and policy; the analysis and recommendations regarding Arctic College in the recent Strength at Two Levels document; and larger issues surrounding the role of Arctic College and post-secondary education in the NWT.

The standing committee wishes to acknowledge the cooperation and thoughtful input received from representatives of the college and the Department of Education during public hearings in Fort Smith on January 22, 1992. The standing committee also took special note of the many comments and suggestions provided by students and faculty with whom Members discussed these issues during visits to the Thebacha College over the course of the Fort Smith hearings. This input, as well as a review of planned documents prepared by the board of governors in the existing legislation, has led the standing committee to establish a series of further priorities for the review of Arctic College. The committee will meet during the summer months to further examine issues related to the operation of Arctic College and the role and activities of the board of governors. The standing committee will provide a final report on the examination of these matters later in the fiscal year. At the present time, however, the standing committee did wish to place before the House some interim observations and an outline for its further work plan.

Interim Observations

The standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions has noted that it seems as though the early development of Arctic College was driven largely by political priorities and particularly by the desire to build a base of assets in lqaluit and to protect the significant presence that the college has represented in Fort Smith.

As these political priorities have been achieved, the board appears to have found itself working in something of a vacuum, largely as a result of its relationship to the Department of Education. Although it is clear that the hardworking members of this board have been diligent in their commitment to their responsibilities, the fact remains that the Arctic College Act clearly establishes that it is the Minister of Education who is responsible for determining policy respecting operations, programs and priorities of the college. Further, the act also provides for the Minister to give direction regarding the exercise of the board's powers in the performance of its duties. In actual fact, it appears as though relatively little direction has been forthcoming from the cabinet with respect to college operations.

Particularly during the 11th Assembly, the board of governors responded to this vacuum in its policy framework by taking the ball and running with it. Decisions about operations, programs and priorities have tended to fall to the board to resolve within its mandate for administrative policy.

As a result, many of the activities undertaken by the board of governors have not been formally delegated as is required by statute. This has included, but is not limited to: the establishment of campuses (only one campus appears to have been properly established by statutory instrument); determination of policy respecting operations, programs and priorities of the college; and development of a mission statement.

Apparently the board of governors has enjoyed a certain sense of autonomy, even though it has no statutory authority to exercise it. The standing committee was concerned about this because it suggests that the development of Arctic College has proceeded outside the accountability framework provided by the act. The college has evolved, not as a result of cabinet-approved plans and initiatives subject to review by the Legislative Assembly, but rather through a series of unrelated decisions which the board has had to make in order to perform its administrative mandate.

The result has been an emerging college structure that has not seemed closely tied to long-range planning with other elements of the territorial educational system and has tended to place a priority on the appearance of regionalization through the establishment of a campus infrastructure in each region. This was perceived by the Strength at Two Levels team as "trying to be all things to all people."

The standing committee noted that the board of governors seems to have made an attempt, especially over the past two years, to fill this policy vacuum. The board has completed significant work on the development of a strategic plan and an information base and a proposed funding allocation system, which would provide a frame of reference for the ongoing development of the college. The board has also carried out a significant amount of work identifying criteria for selecting its own membership, has developed board orientation and skilled development processes, and completed an internal evaluation of its own dynamics.

Again, though much of the work has not had the intended effect because formal response has not been forthcoming from the Minister. While the board of governors has a proposed direction for the development of Arctic College and its strategic plan and funding allocation system, it is left not knowing what elements are acceptable, which elements are priorities and which elements require further revision.

A need exists to develop a better understanding for the future direction to be followed by the board, and for that reason it is important for the Minister to provide a formal response to the college's strategic plan,

Also, an ongoing mechanism is needed where the priorities and interests of the Minister can be communicated to the board in a manner which makes the message quite clear. Once this message is received from the department, the board should be allowed the responsibility to operate within its administrative mandate in order to achieve the stated goals.

The funding allocation system proposed by the board of governors would provide the framework for that sort of accountability, particularly when combined with the newly developed student record system. The Minister needs to formally indicate whether, or which parts. of a funding allocation system are acceptable.

One area which should be prioritized quickly is the need to undertake independent fund-raising, through foundation

resources, administrative allocations from research grants, alumni canvas or other means. The Minister and the board should work together on developing a framework for this.

The standing committee was of the definite opinion that the Strength at Two Levels report should only be seen as a discussion document with respect to Arctic College and should not automatically be assumed as the revision model. Indeed, committee Members were somewhat concerned that many of the students, faculty and community representatives encountered in Fort Smith were of the opinion that the Strength at Two Levels document presented an already approved plan for implementing organizational change in the college. This is, quite simply, not the case.

Given the importance of the critical issues now facing the Government of the NWT with respect to the continuing development of Arctic College, the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions has extended the term for its current review and plans to provide a final report to the Legislative Assembly during the fall 1992 sitting.

Committee priorities for expanded review include, but are not limited to: a comprehensive review of the strategic plan and funding allocation system proposed by the board of governors; a consideration of the existing statutory relationship between the Minister and the college with consideration to potential areas for amendment; a review of board structures and frameworks used by post-secondary institutions across Canada with a view toward recommending the incorporation of successful organizational systems used elsewhere; an examination of problems which may exist with adult education programming at the community level, including a perceived lack of community involvement and co-ordination; a continuing consideration of whether the operation of Arctic College is fulfilling its statutory mandate for the delivery of adult and post-secondary education under the terms of the mission statement established by the board of governors; and a review of the structural framework and developmental directions best suited to ensure that Arctic College successfully meets the post-secondary and adult education needs of the NWT throughout the 1990s and beyond.

Motion To Accept Committee Report 8-12(2), Carried

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Keewatin Central, that the report of the standing committee on agencies, boards and commissions, be received by the Assembly and adopted.

Mr. Koe, your motion is in order. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 12, tabling of documents. Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 28-12(2), 1992 Arctic Winter Games Results, Ulu Count By Unit, Sport, and Athlete/Team. Thank you.

Tabling of documents.

Item 13, notices of motions. Item 14, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, March 27, 1992, 1 shall move that Bill 7, An Act Respecting Interim Appropriations for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 1993, be read for the first time.

Notices of motions for first reading of bills. We will take a short break before we get into Item 15, motions.

--- SHORT RECESS

The Assembly will come to order. Item 15, motions. Mr. Todd.

Your motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Todd.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Motions. Mr. Dent.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question is being called. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Item 16, first reading of bills. Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, that Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act, be read for the first time.

The motion is in order. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Bill 26 has had first reading. Item 16, first reading of bills. Mr. Ningark.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by

the honourable Member for Iqaluit, that Bill 27, Wildlife Conservation Act, be read for the first time.

The motion is in order. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? the motion is carried.

--- Carried

Bill 27 has had first reading.

Item 17, second reading of bills. Item 18, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 9-12(2), Strength at Two Levels; Tabled Document 10-12(2), Reshaping Northern Government; Tabled Document 12-12(2), Plebiscite Direction; Bill 14, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1992-93; Committee Report 3-12(2), SCOF Review of the 1992-93 Capital Estimates; Motion 6-12(2), Discussion on Sobriety Clause in Contribution Agreements; Bill 21, Supplementary Appropriation Act No. 3, 1990-91 and Bill 25, Supplementary Appropriation Act No. 3, 1991-92, with Mr. Nerysoo in the chair.

I would like to call the committee to order. We are dealing with Bill 14. What is the committee's wish? Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that we report progress.

The motion to report progress is not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

I will rise and report progress,

Item 19, report of committee of the whole. Mr, Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 14 and Committee Report 3-12(2), and wishes to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the chairman of committee of the whole be concurred with.

I am impressed with the skill of the chairman. Is there a seconder to the motion? The motion is seconded by Mr. Arvaluk. The motion is in order. All those in favour? Opposed? The motion is carried.

--- Carried

Item 20, third reading of bills. Mr. Whitford.