That will be two years from now in 2012. So that’s the reason why we’re doing this school review. Mahsi.

So I wonder, do we feel that’s sufficient time, or I wonder if we have any early thoughts on this. That seems like a pretty tight window of time. I know we’re looking at our whole strategy of space in Yellowknife and so on. Is there at least an option to renew on a short-term basis, if not a longer term basis, on our current space? Do we know? Thank you.

This should give us some time to review the overall plan of the Yellowknife Campus itself. With the outcome of the review, that should give us an indication of where we need to go next and the negotiations stages start from there. It’s going to be just less than two years going forward. So it may or may not be enough time to put a package together, but we’ll do what we can out of the review and then get together as a department, but we can update the Members as we progress forward. Mahsi.

Okay we’re on page 10-35, Aurora College, funding allocations, information item. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to say on the record that I support the long-term vision of an independent college/university established here in the Northwest Territories and hopefully that the independence, what I’m referring to is a Yellowknife Campus. Mr. Chairman, I’m a little cautious that we would have a mass exodus out of the Northern United building, which at present the college in Yellowknife is located. I would caution, you know, both the department or any Member suggesting that we should jump out of that, only because we have to keep in mind what we’re doing. In that particular facility, the Northern United building, the college provides itself as an anchor tenant to that building that may be difficult to replace. Now, in most cases, most people wouldn’t care if the government is an anchor tenant or not, they think move ahead, but it’s what that anchor tenant does that is very important.

The territorial government represents a significant amount of income to that building that allows them, in turn, to provide low, cost-effective housing for people who otherwise couldn’t afford housing. In other words, the government, which pays a reasonable market fee, helps offset and allows that building to make sure that elders, whether they’re a new Canadian, whether they’re whatnot, have an ability to house…somewhere to live in a safe and secure environment and it’s very affordable. So I’d just be cautious that anyone would suggest the long-term vision should not include some type of tenancy in that building.

I’ve spoken to the board there and said that my long-term vision of the college is to migrate out of there, but yet, I would like to see it as an independent campus here in Yellowknife, and I think that’s the next phase for it. I’d be surprised if there were too many people in this city that didn’t think so.

But we cannot forget government’s social commitment and that building provides a lot of housing for people and it’s extremely affordable where it’s very difficult to find affordable housing if you’re a single person with some kids. As I said, if you’re a couple that are in your elderly years on an extreme fixed income, I mean, that becomes one of the most viable options for you, and that building does provide a safe home for a lot of people that otherwise would be extremely at risk. And furthermore, they’d probably be on maybe income support as a possible option to be able to get through. The government tenancy there also protects independent living by these types of people. It also being in my riding, I know it extremely well, and I can tell you right now that

there would be a lot of families put at risk if government did some brash move without, sort of, thinking.

I’ve always been a stalwart supporter of saying that the campus must evolve, and I think we’d be going backwards if we didn’t look forward. But, that said, the government still, I think, has a social commitment to what that facility does, or I should say, that building does. So we should be cautious and tread very lightly on any potential changes on that building and realize the full impact it will have in this community. I’m not sure government would be prepared for the changes and, certainly, the dynamics that would fall out of that and I’d be very concerned.

Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to make sure that that got on the record, because, again, I’m not against the college leaving. I’m certainly in support of that. But we have to make sure we have a plan that’s appropriate and that needs to be considered in this review. At least if it’s not the college’s problem, we should certainly make sure that the government understands that. Thank you.

Minister of Education.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we’re always very cautious on when we deal with those matters at hand, especially when the review comes into play. Once it’s produced, then there will be plenty of discussion to take place, and we will be keeping the Members up to speed on what the next step would be. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Okay. Back to page 10-35, Aurora College, funding allocations. Agreed?

Moving on to page 10-36, information item, work performed on behalf of others. Any questions?

Moving on to page 10-37, again, information item, work performed on behalf of others. Any questions?

Moving on to page 10-38, work performed on behalf of others. Any questions?

Work performed on behalf of others, $7.57 million. Agreed?

Can we turn to page 10-7, department summary. Education, Culture and Employment, department summary, operations expenditure summary, $306.888 million.

Does the committee agree that we have concluded the Department of Education, Culture and Employment?

With that, I’d like to thank the Minister and his witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses out?

The next department that we’ll be looking at is the NWT Housing Corporation. Agreed?

With that, I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation if he has any opening comments. Minister McLeod.