SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - As Aurora College's lease at Northern United Place approaches its end in 2012, Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy told the government to "think outside the box" when it considers new locations - and suggested J.H. Sissons School as a possible site.

"We've got lots of buildings that are government-owned or on government property and money's in tight supply," the MLA said. "We need a Yellowknife campus," he said.

Abernethy told members of the legislative assembly last week that "enrolment at Sissons is quite low, and if we're trying to maximize the use of our facilities, if we're trying to gain the maximum benefit for every dollar, maybe it's time to consider changing the use of a buildings like Sissons and possibly, maybe, that should be our Yellowknife campus."

He pointed to stand-alone campuses in Inuvik and Fort Smith. "And we've got an apartment building that's been modified into a college," he said, adding that the current location of Aurora College at Northern United Place was inadequate for the growing list of courses offered, and staying in the building would stunt its growth.

"The lease is coming up in 2012, if we sign another 10-year lease on there, then we're stuck in that building that may not meet our needs," he said. "2012 is imminent. We've got to do some planning, we've got to do some thinking."

He also mentioned the cost of renting the space at Northern United Place, saying "I remember looking at them (the costs) and thinking, oh my God, that's insane."

Dan Daniels, deputy minister for the Department of Education Culture and Employment, said the annual cost of renting, operating and maintaining the facility is $2 million.

Aurora College has been located at Northern United Place since 1997 but Daniels said the expanding college may well need to find a new home.

"The college is meeting a certain number of needs, but I know they also use a facility outside Northern United Place to support some of their programs," the deputy minister said. "So I think, if we look at what the college is going to look like down the road in terms of what kind of programs there will be, we have to take all that into consideration."

Daniels said the location of Aurora College will be considered as part of the 10 year facility plan for Yellowknife education facilities.

"There are a range of different options that might be explored," he said.

"Whether we try to get some projects in place on the capital plan for the future or whether we continue to look at lease options or other options that might emerge as a result of all the discussions."

Sissons School came under the spotlight as a potential location for the college when Abernethy made the suggestion in legislative assembly. However, the MLA was quick to tell Yellowknifer that the option was simply a "suggestion," and he was trying to get the government to think creatively.

Metro Huculak, superintendant for Yk Education District No. 1, said Sissons School is currently about 60 per cent full, but he said that number will increase because of the French immersion offered.

"What's happening is, because Sissons has become a totally French immersion school, we're getting bigger classes coming into kindergarten," he said.

"So, it looks like Sissons will be growing, as opposed to declining down the road."