Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is one of the avenues. We also did a lot of stakeholder engagements with key stakeholders across the Northwest Territories to get their input in how do we look at redirecting the Aurora College program services. That is one of the avenues that we have used. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in the House I asked some questions about a mandate letter from the government to the college. Will the Minister commit to this House that he will actually show us what this mandate letter was? We have seen other deputy ministers' mandate letters, but we haven't seen the Aurora College one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This was the first year that a Minister has given the board of governors a mandate letter to go out and do the work on behalf of residents of the Northwest Territories in working within the Aurora College system. We can get copies of the mandate letter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his commitment on that. In regard to the social work program, we have heard about low enrolment in that. What has the government or the college done to find out why we are not having success? Has the government or the college actually done an assessment of it and found out why the students have not done that? I would like to ask the Minister if he can provide any information.

As I mentioned earlier, the college does review its programs, evaluates its programs. We also engage our students who have taken the program or who have left or haven't successfully completed the program and ask them those specific questions, what is working in the program, what hasn't. We will continue working with Aurora College to address the reviewing of any of their programs that they provide in the Northwest Territories. Yes, we do look at those programs.

I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess this leads to my next question. Will the college be willing to share with us over here the results of this study or this evaluation, so we can look at the programs, so we can make an informed decision?

I will be meeting with the board of governors. I will bring up the request on behalf of the president, and I will get back to the Member.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his commitment. I have heard a lot of stuff about the social work program in the last couple of weeks here and leading up to it. In regard to the social work program, can the Minister confirm that, once a student finishes this program, they can be hired by the department as a social worker? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes. It is an accredited program. After they have finished the diploma program, we do work with the Department of Health to try to get these students into the department, and we also work on helping them support and finish their full degree so they have a better chance of getting a job within the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked a couple of questions on the Teacher Education Program, trying to get a feel for what the plan is moving forward with the elimination of this program. I want to ask the Minister if there is a plan to replace this program with something of that type of level of professionalism that is required. When you finish the Teacher Education Program you have opportunities to get decent-level jobs. I am wondering what will replace that? Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to make it clear that both the social work program and the Teacher Education Program are being phased out. I mean, the students that are in both programs are still going to get the support that they need to complete the studies that they are currently in. The teachers are going to get the support they need so they can support the students for that success. We are still going to be waiting on that strategic plan coming out, but this was one program that was identified. When I mentioned earlier, are we getting the biggest bang for the investments that we are making in certain programs, that is something that we are looking at and something we are working with our board of governors and our senior staff at the Aurora College to identify those reductions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Is the Minister telling me that there will not be something to replace the Teacher Education Program?

No, I am not saying that. I am saying that we are going to have to wait until April when we are able to see that Aurora College strategic 10-year plan, working with the board of governors, our staff, as well as the senior management of Aurora College. Once we get that report, all that information will be shared with committee and Members.

One of the programs, obviously, that must have stood out as a program that was failing to meet its effectiveness would have been TEP, since it has been phased out. The phase-out period is going to be from now until 2020. I would like to ask the Minister if he could advise the House how many actual employees of Aurora College would be affected by that phase out?

I don't have the exact numbers right now. As I mentioned, I will be meeting with the board of governors this weekend. We will be looking at bringing some of these concerns forward. They are obviously listening this week very closely, and we can get the numbers for the Member.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, our staff is meeting with the superintendents right now on the roll-out of junior kindergarten. We are listening to any concerns that they may have had, as well as what we have heard from residents from across the Northwest Territories. Those discussions are going on right now. Once those meetings are completed, we can get better updates to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.