Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. I am proud to be standing here to speak about the Dechinta Bush University today. I have many constituents who have completed the seven-week programming at the Blachford Lodge and are furthering their own communities.
We as the Government of the Northwest Territories have been growing up with the onset of devolution, and so should our education system. Canada is the only circumpolar country without a circumpolar
university. I believe strongly, as the board of directors of the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning who operate the Dechinta Bush University, that it is time for us to establish a full-time accredited university in the Northwest Territories.
Since its inception in 2009, the Dechinta University has successfully provided land-based post-secondary education in the Northwest Territories. Dechinta is accredited by the University of Alberta and the University of McGill, which means the diplomas granted are from them. The Dechinta University cannot grant a northern diploma without first being empowered by the Education Act of the Northwest Territories.
I do want to acknowledge that they are being financially supported by the departments of Education, MACA, ENR, but for the most part, and gratefully so, is also privately funded by foundations.
The Premier of the NWT has been on record for saying that we need made-in-the-North solutions, and here we have a real made-in-the-North solution to establishing a recognized and accredited university in the Northwest Territories.
I challenge the Minister of Education to also support and create this made-in-the-North solution to a post-secondary education. Certainly, we do have the Aurora College which provides excellent service; however, we are not complete as an education system unless we have a university we can call our own.
Dechinta has to be recognized in our Education Act to be an accredited institution that can fully grant major and minor diplomas to our Northerners. In the past five years they have proven that university-calibre education can be taught in the Northwest Territories. They have also proven that there is demand for it. For the past three years, applications are far exceeding the spaces available. Students that are applying believe that they should not have to leave the North to pursue a degree relevant to their future, unless it is their choice. With this interest, Northerners do want to be educated in the North.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted