Last month, workers at Aurora College were notified that they would be closing all community learning and literacy outreach centres (CLCs) in the territory, cutting 47 positions and laying off the 31 people who worked at them.
The college told its employees SA国际影视传媒� some of whom have worked there for decades SA国际影视传媒� that the decision was made in the interests of advancing the transition to a polytechnic, and it would do its best to help them relocate to new positions within the GNWT.
Last week, the GNWT buried a notice to all employees behind a link in its internal newsletter, letting them know that it would be implementing SA国际影视传媒渇iscal restraint measuresSA国际影视传媒� that include a hiring freeze for SA国际影视传媒渘on-essential vacanciesSA国际影视传媒� until April 1.
Fortunately, the GNWT has until June 30 to hopefully find vacant positions for the affected Aurora College workers. Unfortunately, workers affected by the Fort Smith Correctional Complex closure last year, who are still waiting to find out if there are other positions to move into, will be officially laid off as of March 31 if this hiring freeze applies to filling vacancies internally.
Perhaps these workers will be able to upgrade their educations to switch careers and improve their prospectsSA国际影视传媒� oh wait.
As we steel ourselves for the second budget of the 20th Legislative Assembly, one thing is becoming clear: this government doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 care about the small stuff. By that I mean our small communities, marginalized residents and the front-line workers who provide services to those communities.
Top-heavy management and centralization appear to be our governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 approach to solving its budgetary woes.
How does the GNWT plan to save money? Hire more senior managers to form committees and commission reports! Find efficiencies by asking program staff to throw other divisions under the bus! Look under every rock and in every nook and cranny for pennies to pinch, but donSA国际影视传媒檛 SA国际影视传媒� under any circumstances SA国际影视传媒� look up!
The CLC closures hit especially hard. The education minister has said itSA国际影视传媒檚 Aurora CollegeSA国际影视传媒檚 decision, and the college has passed the buck to its board of governors; but at the end of the day, the GNWT is the one holding the purse strings, and these closures follow their upsetting trend of cutting off programs and services for our most vulnerable residents.
Cuts to education move us further away from what we should be doing as a territory. In times of economic downturn, we should be looking at strengthening the education of Northerners, not reducing availability and further increasing dependency on the system.
The North is experiencing a housing crisis that affects every community across the territory. Many prospective students know that housing is a challenge. For someone in public housing, having to leave their community for school means giving up their housing.
Being able to upgrade or complete your education at home is not just convenient; for many, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a necessity.
Many students depend on the help of their community while they are upgrading. Access to networks that offer resources such as childcare, country foods and emotional support are vital to their success.
Across the territory, each and every community has unique challenges that students consider when they choose to further their study. Instructors on the ground at CLCs are aware of these challenges and are best positioned to assist students with finding solutions that work best for their situation.
Plugging someone into a computer and leaving them to fend for themselves is not an acceptable substitute for in-person learning. This approach assumes that everyone who wants to learn has access to a computer and affordable, reliable internet. Even if someone does have these things, they may not have a suitable space that is free of distractions, with help readily available.
Placing more hurdles and barriers can delay or even deter someoneSA国际影视传媒檚 choice to further their education.
If an individual decides to postpone their education, this places more strain on social housing and more dependency on government support. These individuals will have limited access to higher-wage jobs and are less likely to fill leadership roles within their communities.
Early childhood, nursing, trades and many other occupations are desperately needed in the NWT. These are jobs that build connections within communities and should be filled by local residents, wherever possible.
Cutting programs that give people in small communities a path forward to fill those jobs is shortsighted and bad for our local economy. It feeds the narrative that SA国际影视传媒淵ellowknife knows bestSA国际影视传媒� and reinforces the idea that our institutions donSA国际影视传媒檛 care about the future or prosperity of our small communities.
While Aurora College chases the dream of becoming a full-fledged university, it needs to be held accountable for turning its back on the people and programs that have been its foundation for over three decades.
During the budget session that begins in the legislative assembly this week, weSA国际影视传媒檒l be watching this government closely to see if they continue down the path of downsizing essential programs and services, or if theySA国际影视传媒檝e finally figured out that building up the NWT means investing in its all its people.
