Fired Aurora College president Tom Weegar is contradicting cabinet explanations for his departure.

Weegar, who has only been in the job for about a year, says he was "surprised" when he was dismissed last week, and is calling into question comments made by Premier Caroline Cochrane and Education, Culture and Employment Minister RJ Simpson.

Wednesday that Weegar had stepped "away to pursue other opportunities."

When asked about his firing in the legislative assembly Wednesday, Premier Cochrane told MLAs "to jump (and) say, 'he was shown the door' might not be the term that I would use."

But Weegar says that is "incorrect," saying his firing last week came out of the blue.

SA国际影视传媒淢y initial reaction was very much surprise,SA国际影视传媒� said Weegar. SA国际影视传媒淚 had no knowledge that the government was interested in letting me go and replacing me. No communication about that whatsoever.SA国际影视传媒�

He said he was offered no explanation for his dismissal.

The territorial government announced Weegar was out as Aurora College president and associate deputy minister of Education, Culture and Employment, post-secondary education renewal, on Tuesday. His replacement is Andy Bevan, who had served as the department's assistant deputy minister, labour and income security.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Premier thanks Dr. Weegar for his work in helping to advance the transformation of the College into a polytechnic university and wishes him well in his future endeavours,SA国际影视传媒� the government press release stated.

Weegar said he suspects his dismissal was politically motivated, believing cabinet was lobbied by a yet undisclosed party to have him terminated.

He said one of his colleagues at Yukon College told him, SA国际影视传媒淭om, youSA国际影视传媒檙e the third president to be sabotaged from within.SA国际影视传媒�

Prior to the Aurora College job, Weegar served as vice-president of academics at Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology in Peterborough, Ont. From 2013 to 2018, he was president and CEO at Cumberland College in Nipawin, Saskatchewan.

Weegar said he recognizes the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university has been a challenging journey, that at times can be political. However, there was no indication his position was in danger, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 believe someone went to the premier and said something. What that was? Who that was? I have no idea," said Weegar.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think a premier makes a decision partway through the term and makes a decision like this without some impetus. ISA国际影视传媒檓 curious as to what this impetus was.SA国际影视传媒�

Weegar said he was still in the early stages of Aurora CollegeSA国际影视传媒檚 transformation when he was let go. He said he was attempting to engage the institutionSA国际影视传媒檚 faculty and staff in the process under what Weegar called SA国际影视传媒渁 shared leadership approach.SA国际影视传媒� 

SA国际影视传媒淲e were on that journey going hand in hand to make things happen,SA国际影视传媒� he said. 

Last year, when Cochrane was the education minister, the GNWT was aiming for a polytechnic university to be in place by 2025.

Weegar, however, said his dismissal will set that timeline back significantly. 

SA国际影视传媒淚t puts leadership in question,SA国际影视传媒� he said. 

SA国际影视传媒淧remier, whatSA国际影视传媒檚 your plan? Where are you going with this? How do you plan to ensure thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a solid basis of educational leadership with this institution."

Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green told SA国际影视传媒 after Wednesday's question period in the legislative assembly that Weegar's firing was likewise a surprise for MLAs.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut this certainly caught me off guard and people ISA国际影视传媒檝e spoken to hadnSA国际影视传媒檛 seen this coming,SA国际影视传媒� she said.