Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the social issues in the NWT are not going away with an increase in industrial development. It needs to be a balanced approach by this government. When you look at our social issues in the NWT, they are vast and many, which could possibly have lessened with a workforce of people trained and educated on northern social work program.
Mr. Speaker, here we go again -- the fiscal restraint taken over without looking at the long-term picture of the Northwest Territories. The ill-advised cuts to Aurora College are misguided at best and downright silly at worst.
After seeing the approach the college has taken, I believe we need a review by an independent group and with a lot of input from all stakeholders, not just top administrators. While there are some great things about the college, more relevant programming, proper recruitment, improved staff morale, and more emphasis on northern courses would be a great start.
We need a social program in the NWT, and this decision is not acceptable. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment later on today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.