Petition opposes Aurora College cuts
Kam Lake MLA introduces document with 246 signatures at legislative assembly
Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
An online petition to maintain funding for all Aurora College programs was presented in the legislative assembly yesterday.
Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart introduced the petition, which was started by Joanna Westwell, a former finance manager at Aurora College's Thebacha campus in Fort Smith.
This came after Testart gave an impassioned statement about the importance of the school's education and social work programs, which are on the chopping block during this budget session.
"I am simply confounded by how stubborn the minister and the government is being with the cuts to the social work program and to the teacher education program," Testart said. "How much public backlash and criticism must they face before it becomes evident this is not what the people of the Northwest Territories want?"
The college announced earlier this month it is halting admissions to its social work and education programs as a result of a $1.89-million funding cutback proposed in the 2017-18 territorial budget.
Although current students will be able to complete their programs, students who are in the one-year qualifying program for the social work diploma will no longer be able to start their studies.
Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses has said the decision was "evidence-based" and made in partnership with the college. He has also said the department will support any student who wants to take those programs to do so at an institution down south.
Westwell said she believes it is important to educate Northerners in the North.
"A lot of the issues that are in the North can be addressed in our education system," she said.
"Any of the programs at the college actually, it has a Northern flare, which really speaks to a lot of people in the North and it's important to keep that going."
The petition to reverse the program cuts closed on Feb. 15 with 246 signatures from people all across the NWT.
Testart told Yellowknifer it is important people raise their voices against the cuts.
"This is how democracy works," he said, adding he encourages people to use the petitioning platform, as well as demonstrate and talk with their MLAs, to make sure their concerns are heard.
Testart was not involved in starting the petition but said it aligns with his views on the budget cuts.
"Pulling the rug out from underneath students is in no one's interest," Testart said.
He said he can't support cuts that have not been well explained to students who have based their future on their graduation from the programs.
"We need to have a good plan that transforms Aurora College from what it is today into an effective post-secondary institution," he said.
Westwell said she hopes the petition will impact some kind of change - and possibly even reverse the program cuts.
"I realize that may not happen," she said.
"But at least it brings some awareness and shows that people do support the idea of not cutting the budget to Aurora College and to our post-secondary education."
