Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to be here today to discuss Bill 48: Post-Secondary Education Act. The primary objective of this bill is to create a process of recognition within the Northwest Territories that ensures the effective governance and quality assurance of all post-secondary institutions and their programs. This new system of quality assurance will provide consumer protection for students and employers that rely on institutions to provide the appropriate level and types of education and training.
Currently in the Northwest Territories we do not have a clear and incremental pathway for an organization to gain recognition as a post-secondary institution. The Post-Secondary Education Act will promote the growth of our post-secondary system and enable organizations to gain different levels and types of recognition based on their own mission and goals. Such recognition is essential to maintaining the confidence of students, employers, and post-secondary education funders from the public and private sector.
For the first time, under one piece of legislation, organizations will be able to gain formal recognition as a private training institution, college, or university. Organizations may also apply for recognition of their degree program or private vocational training program.
In addition to quality assurance processes, the Post-Secondary Education Act creates the ability to recognize Indigenous post-secondary institutions operating in the Northwest Territories. However, the act is only the first step. The specific process and evaluation criteria will be developed through further engagements with Indigenous governments that will shape this important part of our post-secondary education system.
The Post-Secondary Education Act has grown out of a long process of engagement with stakeholders across the territory. The discussion paper released by the department in January 2018 outlined what we might achieve through this legislation and has served as the basis for ongoing dialogue with stakeholders. Officials from the department have been meeting regularly with stakeholders to hear their concerns and ideas, as well as to provide them with updates on development of the legislation.
The department will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure subsequent regulations are clear, effective, and supportive of organizations striving to grow their role in meeting the educational needs of Northerners. Under the new legislation, the post-secondary education system will increasingly become a collaboration between a growing number of post-secondary education organizations operating in the Northwest Territories. It provides a framework for how we will work together moving forward.
I would like to recognize the hard work of the Members of the Standing Committee on Social Development during their review of Bill 48. The questions they posed throughout the process were thoughtful and demonstrated an in-depth analysis of the bill.
Looking back over the past two years, the Standing Committee on Social Development has spent a significant amount of time collaborating with me on our post-secondary education initiatives. Together, we have accomplished several important milestones that I know will have significant and lasting benefits for residents of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho, Mr. Chair.