The education minister wants to have a new Aurora College board of directors in place in two years, but other politicians remain impatient.

Education, Culture and Employment Minister RJ Simpson said in the legislature this week "the plan" is to re-establish a board for the college in 2022.

The college has been without a board since the body dissolved in June 2017 and was replaced by an administrator by then-Education Minister Alfred Moses.

Monfwi MLA and former education minister Jackson Lafferty and Fort Smith Mayor Lynn Napier have both come forward in the past week urging its return.

"During the polytechnic university transition period, we need that expertise, which we don't have today, until 2022, 2024, 2025, whatever the case is,SA国际影视传媒� Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty said about the Board in Assembly on Feb 12.

Concerns over the independence of the college from the GNWT appeared to reignite after the recent dismissal of former College President Tom Weegar. 

The reason for Weegar's dismissal remains under wraps as an HR issue. Education, Culture and Employment Minister RJ Simpson on Feb. 12 said in assembly he and the premier  briefed privately the previous week. Weegar has also indicated heSA国际影视传媒檇 prefer a public discussion.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's been three years since they've been without a board,SA国际影视传媒�  Lafferty told the Assembly on Feb. 13, pointing to Weegar's firing by the premier. SA国际影视传媒淲hy does this government deny an arm's-length (governance structure)?SA国际影视传媒�

Under current rules, the minister has the power to direct the board, determine and approve many of its policies, and remove board members. 

SA国际影视传媒淲e have an act, but it does not create a board that is free and clear of government interference. In fact, the power essentially lies with the Minister,SA国际影视传媒� he said at the time. 

MLA Frieda Martselos of Thebacha, which includes the CollegeSA国际影视传媒檚 Fort Smith headquarters, said in an interview this week that she wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 interested in SA国际影视传媒渄efending somebody (like Weegar) whoSA国际影视传媒檚 only been there 11 months.SA国际影视传媒�

"ISA国际影视传媒檓 very supportive of the College. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 time to move on,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Martselos said her goal now is keeping the school in Fort Smith, where it forms a significant part of the townSA国际影视传媒檚 economic base. 

SA国际影视传媒淭he wealth has to be shared out of Yellowknife. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 just too much there. We have extremely qualified people that can help this move along. We canSA国际影视传媒檛 put all our eggs in one basket and think that itSA国际影视传媒檚 okay,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Martselos agreed that the CollegeSA国际影视传媒檚 board ought to be reinstated by 2022, but added that SA国际影视传媒渆verything is on track.SA国际影视传媒�

Mayor Lynn Napier of Fort Smith said in an interview Friday that she shared many of LaffertySA国际影视传媒檚 concerns.

She released a statement on Feb. 10 that promised a motion in the NWT Association of Communities, pushing the government on issues like independent oversight and transparency of the College.

In that statement, Napier also called for an independent commissioner to be created and the reinstatement of the CollegeSA国际影视传媒檚 board. 

SA国际影视传媒淢y biggest concern is we are losing opportunity with the courses that have been cancelled: the bachelor of education program, and the social work program,SA国际影视传媒� she said in a Feb. 14 interview.

Her understanding was the programs were under review, and were prioritized to return.  

SA国际影视传媒淏ut when is that going to happen?SA国际影视传媒� she said. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been three years since there was in the Bachelor of Education program, and social work has been shut down entirely, Napier continued.

Noting that the Fort Smith campus draws students from across the NWT, she doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 see these concerns as competition between other college branches in Yellowknife and Inuvik. 

SA国际影视传媒淲hat weSA国际影视传媒檝e heard at NWTAC is directly whatSA国际影视传媒檚 come out of the AuditorSA国际影视传媒檚 Report is students arenSA国际影视传媒檛 coming out prepared to even attend post-secondary education. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e not hitting graduation rates. We need to have regional representation. We need to have Boards that are effective (and) reinstated,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

That's going to be a huge part of the success of creating any post-secondary institution in the North," Napier continued.