We try to work with the federal government, but, ultimately, the federal government will decide if a species is at risk, and then we will work with them plus our Aboriginal governments across the Northwest Territories to see how best we can mitigate the effects on the species that have been identified.

Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am trying to get into more of the traditional knowledge, so I want to ask the Minister: while considering which species to be put on this designation, do the Aboriginal governments or Indigenous governments in the NWT have equal say as to the actions that are going to be taken by this group or by the federal government or by a group between the Minister's department and the federal department? Thank you.

We rely a lot on traditional knowledge, and I can assure the Members of this House that there is extensive consultation with the Aboriginal governments. On the caribou, for example, we had sent out a number of requests. We got, I think, 147 responses back through various stakeholders, including the Aboriginal governments, so there is an opportunity there for them to have their input as we put our plan together as to how we are going to mitigate the fact that the federal government determines the species at risk. We work closely with the Aboriginal governments.

I have to give a shout-out to many of the Aboriginal governments. A lot of them recognize that caribou are in low numbers. They have shown some leadership and determined that there was going to be no harvesting from within their own organization until we come up with a plan, so a shout-out to some of the Aboriginal governments that have shown some leadership. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I welcome the Minister's statement about the next steps in the foundational review, but I also have some concerns. When the standing committee wrote to the Minister at the end of August, what we said was that we were concerned about the project's strict timeline because the contract, at that point, had not been awarded, so I am wondering how that became advice to delay the project. Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was a delay in the contract, but we want to make sure that we do this review the best way we can for the residents of the Northwest Territories so that they have access to the best education possible. It is the responsibility of this government. Our next steps outlining will help us create a long-term solution for post-secondary education in the Northwest Territories.

I did not hear the Minister answer my question. I want to be very clear that the committee did not ask for a delay in the foundational review. We realize that the stakes are very high for the students whose programs have been put on hold pending the outcome of this exercise. What, in fact, will the impact of this delay be on them?

As I mentioned, we want to make sure we do this review right and that we get the best possible report moving forward to provide the best education for the residents of the Northwest Territories. We appreciate committee's input into this.

I am not sure that the students in the social work and teacher education programs are going to find that response very helpful. They were told that their program would be on hold for a year while this took place. Clearly now it is going to be more like two years. What is the Minister going to tell the students and the staff in those affected programs about the future of their program?

When decisions were made about the two programs, we mentioned that our social work and TEP program students are still going to continue to get the support from our department and get the support, also, from the Aurora College staff to help them on their path to a career and a future education.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure that the original announcement cancelling these programs and then later suspending these programs really prepares students and staff for what has become a very long and arduous process.

It is not clear to me, and I would like to ask why this delay happened in the first place. The Minister announced the foundational review in March. The contract was not awarded until September. Why did it take that long? Thank you.

Anyone knows that, when you are going through a procurement or a contract, it does take time. This is the same thing. We want to make sure we do it right, and we want to make sure that our students have the best opportunity for the best services and programs in post-secondary education, and we are committed to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. The time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Assessment of Aurora College, Cleveland Consulting, March 2013" and "Letter from Standing Committee on Social Development to Minister of Education, Culture and Employment regarding Aurora College Foundational Review Terms of Reference dated August 28, 2017."

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents entitled "Northern Employee Benefits Services (NEBS) Pension Plan Annual Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2016," "2016-2017 63rd Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Liquor Commission," and "Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Board 63rd Annual Report 2016-2017."

Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it was my intention to table the letter that the Minister just tabled. Mahsi.

Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Committee Report 12-18(2): Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning Report on the Progress Review of the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019; Minister's Statement 186-18(2): Update on the A New Day Program; Tabled Document 416-18(2): Capital Estimates, 2018-2019; Tabled Document 419-18(2): Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 (Revised), with the Member for Sahtu in the chair.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What are the wishes of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Marci cho, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that we rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.