Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will just touch quickly on some of the aspects that my colleagues touched on that I, too, will be sharing some concern about and raising questions on but remain hopeful that we can find solutions together. Of course, that is junior kindergarten, early childhood development, our Aurora College and what it means to our territory, and recent cuts to programs there, in particular social work and the Teacher Education Program.
I also want to raise some points, Mr. Chair, as it relates to, aside from the education aspects, but the labour development aspects that this department is accountable for and puts out in terms of programs and services and what have you. I think, obviously, the Skills 4 Success program is something that is really tied into this area and in helping us work toward developing and continuing to develop our efforts in trades development and technical skills through support for apprenticeship programs, mentorship-type programs. These are critical for us to start to fill gaps within different industries.
Speaking of gaps, I think it is very important that this department works with other departments in identifying where particular industry gaps are and developing some specific skill sets that can help to fill those gaps. We know that there are some initiatives under way right now with regard to tourism, which is very positive to hear.
As one of my colleagues alluded to earlier, the creative arts are very important. This is an area I think that once upon a time received no focus at all but is now proving to be an industry unto itself, and one that, in fact, contributes to innovation more than we ever expected and is going to continue to do so and, in fact, is arguably going to lead the way as it leads to innovation. So I think it is very important that this department recognizes the goals and objectives of this government and the goals we have set out as a territory to begin to diversify in a number of areas. The creative industry is certainly one of those areas where we have got to put some prime focus.
I think that, as it relates to post-secondary education, it is going to be very difficult for me, if I can just get into the weeds for one moment, to support a budget that is going to see the reduction of the social work and the teacher education programs. I have trouble understanding how that meets the mandate goals of this government. I have trouble understanding how we will meet our TRC obligations when these are the types of programs in our Northern-made college that are designed for us to specifically reach and attain those goals and meet those obligations. So I'm sure there will be a lot more questioning and comments raised around that.
To Aurora College, like other colleagues have shared, I like Aurora College for what it is in terms of what it provides to the young folks of the Northwest Territories and what it is intended to do. I think we have a lot of opportunity to enhance what it is, and I'm looking forward to what comes out of the review and the plan. I, for one, am not one who supports reinventing Aurora College and trying to turn it into something that it isn’t, like a university or what have you.
Because I do believe that we as a territory need to support more than just Aurora College, that we most certainly have to start supporting alternative post-secondary education opportunities. There are folks on our doorstep proving, and proving statistically, that this is something we're capable of doing here in the North, and we certainly have got to show that we're investing in that and that we're going to work to build those partnerships and enhance those partnerships.
I'll touch also just quickly, because I think it falls in line with this department as well, is the fact that, you know, just the last Assembly Mr. Chair was working heavily toward a population growth strategy, and it seems to have taken a back seat to some degree, and I know it's through Education, Culture and Employment that we have to tie into the immigration policy. We've got to make sure that immigration efforts are being streamlined and that they're accessible and they're actually delivering upon the goals that we've set out as a government to promote immigration.
So I think, Mr. Chair, I'll let it at that for now and I look forward to us engaging in this department. Thank you, Mr. Chair.