Mr. Speaker, I do agree that education is the best gift that we can provide to the Northwest Territories. I did provide to the Member that one can look at it as not a university base, but we are delivering university core courses and we are graduating teachers with degree programs. A Member can look at it as not a base but we are expanding on our programs.
The three main campuses that we have, the goal is to expand further so it is recognized as a university of the north or the university of the Arctic. That is the vision that we have with Minister Strahl. The
three jurisdictions, Territorial Ministers’ Meeting, we met on this. We are making progress in this area. Some may question the bricks and mortar if we are going to have an established university in the North. Due to the economy, it may not be feasible at this time, but we are focussing on what we can do now, expanding more partnerships or approach the universities across the country, the Northwest Territories, across Canada and also internationally.
Mr. Speaker, we are doing what we can to be recognized as a university institution so we can access federal funding on scientific research through the federal government. That has been a discussion at the federal level and we will continue to discuss that. Mahsi.