Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to introduce Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Public Colleges Act. The purpose of this legislation is to modernize our legislation relating to colleges in the Northwest Territories. To that end, this bill proposes various amendments to the Public Colleges Act.

First, the title of the legislation will be changed to the Aurora Colleges Act to reflect the fact that Aurora College is now the only public college in the Northwest Territories. Amendments will also be made throughout the act and in other legislation to replace references to public colleges with references to Aurora College.

Second, the act will be amended to alter the current composition and tenure of persons serving on the Aurora College Board of Governors. In particular, the act will be amended to reflect current departmental practice of

requiring representation on the board of governors from all regions of the Northwest Territories.

Amendments will also be made to replace references to the Science Advisory Council with references to the Research Advisory Council and to grant Aurora College with express authority to grant prescribed applied bachelor degrees. Inoperative provisions of the act will be repealed.

These amendments are desirable to ensure the act is accurate and up to date.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be pleased to answer any questions the members of committee may have.