Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the cuts to Aurora College. I am simply confounded by how stubborn the Minister and the government is being with the cuts to the social work program and the Teacher Education Program. How much public backlash and criticism must they face before it becomes evident that this is not what the people of the Northwest Territories want? It is not about us, Mr. Speaker, about the Regular Members, but the people we serve. Their voice has been loud and clear on this issue. They have protested outside this legislature. They have written scores of letters. They have filed petitions. Mr. Speaker, what will it take to put the brakes on this cut and get these programs reinstated?
Mr. Speaker, the government's own Skills 4 Success plan presents the facts quite clearly. From 2015 to 2030, the NWT will need to recruit 777 elementary and kindergarten school teachers, 577 secondary school teachers, 448 early child educators and assistants, and 382 college and vocational instructors to meet replacement and expansion of existing programs.
Also from ECE, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment labour market information resources, we know that social and community service workers are forecasted to increase in demand throughout the next 15 years. The medium-term forecast increase is from 340 positions in 2014 to 410 positions by 2030. That is a 21 per cent increase in positions, and our students will not have an option of obtaining those opportunities here in the North.
What bold initiative is this government taking to ensure we can meet the demand? It seems, Mr. Speaker, that we are cutting the programs that allow these students to seek these opportunities and learn a trade that is in demand here in the Northwest Territories. I stand against that. I am asking this government to reinstate those programs, to reinstate the funding, at least until we get a strategic plan on the table that we can review, assess, and support. Without that support, I think we should stop this plan and get those students back in class where they belong. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.