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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency is funnelling $27 million over five years to adult basic education programs in the three territories, the prime minister announced Thursday.

"By improving access to adult basic education, we are giving Northerners the tools they need to seek higher education and secure employment in sectors that contribute to Canada's economic growth," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in his announcement from Iqaluit.

The funding will be delivered through the new Northern Adult Basic Education Program, managed by CanNor, to Aurora College, Yukon College and Nunavut College. Initiatives that target working-age adults are expected to start rolling out over the coming year.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) gives Aurora College $5 million annually for these types of courses and the additional funds will help expand programs, according to a statement released by the department.

"It's a significant amount of funding that's going toward adult education," said Helen Balanoff, executive director of the NWT Literacy Council. "I think it has the potential to improve access to educational opportunities for adults, and it also has the potential to have people look at what is currently offered in the field of adult education and make changes that might improve what we currently do."

One major gap in adult education in the NWT is the lack of programs in smaller communities, Balanoff said. Although all of the new funding is going directly to Aurora College, she said she hopes other groups involved in literacy training, such as the Native Women's Association, the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre and the literacy council, would be involved in some way.

"I think having an influx of money is obviously positive," she said. "There are lots of adults out there that have lower level literacy skills."

Funding for this fiscal year - $622,000 until the end of March - will be used to develop a four-year strategy for adult basic education programs in the NWT, according to Jane Arychuk, vice-president of community and extensions for Aurora College.

Planning sessions are scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Yellowknife, where the college will consult with aboriginal government representatives and training partners such as the Mine Training Society, the NWT Literacy Council, the Native Women's Association, the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre, the Department of Justice and ECE.

In addition, extra funding will be given right away to the pre-trades program in Aklavik, upper-level adult basic education programs on Aurora College campuses and to do research on best practices across Canada.

Arychuck said the NWT would receive a total of $9 million over five years.

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