This is page numbers 3291 - 3324 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.

Topics

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. We have concluded consideration of Committee Report 20-19(2), Standing Committee on Social Development, Report on Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act. [Audio]

Committee, we've agreed to consider Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act. I will ask the Minister of Health and Social Services -- sorry, don't ask you.

---Laughter

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to introduce the bill.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm here today to present Bill 30, an Act to Amend the Aurora College Act. I want to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for their interest in and review of this bill.

This bill will result in an arm's length governance system that supports an effective, efficient, and sustainable Aurora College positioned to continuously identify and respond to the needs of northern residents, Indigenous governments, partners, and stakeholders. It will also set the stage for further legislative change in 2024 to create the polytechnic university.

The creation of a polytechnic university is a priority of the 19th Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories mandate commits to transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university in six years, including meeting a quality assurance review by fall 2023. In order to meet this commitment, timely amendments of the Aurora College Act are required to establish a new system of governance that meets national standards and best practices.

Proposed amendments to the Aurora College Act before us are critical to the transformation process, and I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with standing committee during their review of the bill. I believe we worked together in the true spirit of consensus government.

I would also like to acknowledge the considerable input that has been provided by Indigenous governments, partners, stakeholders, and members of the public through the development of this bill.

The establishment of a tricameral model of governance and a competency-based board of governors will better position the college to identify and respond to the needs of northern residents. The establishment of an Indigenous Knowledge Holders Council, as part of the tricameral model, will ensure the NWT is a leader in incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing, into a public institution that reflects the people it serves, including a largely Indigenous student population and a range of Indigenous research partners.

To be recognized as a university in the NWT, Aurora College will follow a process required under the Post-secondary Education Act, beginning with meeting the requirements of an external quality assurance review. Amendments to the governance system proposed in Bill 30 will meet the necessary quality assurance standards and best practices in post-secondary education governance needed for the external review.

That concludes my opening remarks, and I'd be happy to answer any questions that Members might have on this bill. And, Madam Chair, I have witnesses I would like to bring into the Chamber. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witness to the Chamber.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Minister, please introduce your witnesses.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Madam Chair. We have director of legislation division, Christina Duffy, and director of Aurora College Transformation, Dr. Chris Joseph. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, welcome. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 30. Does committee agree that there are no further comments -- no comments? We can proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the bill.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, we will defer the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. We will consider the clauses in groups. Please turn to page 1 of the bill.

Clause 1 to 5, does committee agree?

---Clauses 1 through 14 inclusive approved

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, to the bill as a whole, does committee agree that Bill 30, an Act to Amend the Aurora College Act, is now ready for third reading?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. Does the committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 30, an Act to Amend the Aurora College Act?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister, and thank you to your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Madam Chair, I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thanks.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried. I will now rise and report progress.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

May I please have the report of the Committee of the Whole. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 3306

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 437-19(2), Committee Report 20-19(2), Committee Report 22-19(2), and Bill 30. And I'd like to report progress with 13 motions carried and that Committee Report 20-19(2) and Committee Report 22-19(2) are concluded; and that Bill 30 is ready for third reading; and that consideration of Tabled Document 437-19(2) is concluded; and that the House concur on those estimates as amended and that an appropriation bill to be based thereon be introduced without delay. And, Mr. Speaker, I move that report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 3306

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Do we have a seconder. Member for Hay River North. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Third reading of bills. Mr. Speaker, orders of the day.

Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day

Page 3307

Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orders of the day for Thursday, December 8th, 2021, 1: 30 p.m.

  1. Prayer
  2. Ministers' statements
  3. Members' statements
  4. Returns to Oral Questions
  • Oral Questions 846-19(2) Addictions, Aftercare and Mental Health Supports: Date of Question - December 1, 202
  1. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
  2. Acknowledgements
  3. Oral questions
  4. Written questions
  5. Return to written questions
  6. Replies to Commissioner's address
  7. Petitions
  8. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
  9. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
  10. Tabling of Documents
  11. Notices of Motion
  12. Motions
  13. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
  14. First Reading of Bills
  15. Second Reading of Bills
  16. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
  • Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
  • Bill 29, Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act
  • Committee Report 21-19(2), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Government of the Northwest Territories Approach to the Mining Regime Fiscal Review
  • Committee Report 23-19(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Public Accounts
  1. Report of Committee of the Whole
  2. Third Reading of Bills
  • Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act
  1. 23. Orders of the Day

Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day

Page 3307

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House is adjourned until Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 4:49 p.m.