Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Bell.

Before we do that, Minister Bell, I'd like to turn the floor over to Ms. Lee, the chair for the Social Programs committee. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So just to clarify then, the 23 students who filed their applications late who are enrolled in post-secondary education right now, with the time frame and the anticipation the Minister has of getting the regulation in place, they need to know that there may be an opportunity for them to apply for financial assistance for this semester they are currently enrolled in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So hats off to the Minister for changing the regulations, but when will the regulations be changed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. In my Member's statement today, I spoke of the hardships that are being faced by students that are unable, for various valid reasons, to meet arbitrary application deadlines imposed under the Student Financial Assistance Program. I also spoke of the fact that the vast majority of Canadian SFA programs either have no deadline or allow students to apply for SFA after they have already started their semester. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister today, could he outline, for this...

This is just so much good news. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fact is that there are a number of students who are already enrolled in their classes for this semester, as we speak now, who did miss the previously imposed deadline. They have gone to school; they're there. I want to know about retroactivity. Once the regulation goes in place, will the Minister consider those who had missed the deadline, had to enrol anyway, and are facing financial hardship? Can we have a retroactivity, a period of grace, for those who are enrolled at this time? Thank you.

Well, that sort of takes the wind out of my sails now for the rest of my questioning here, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Okay, I have a good question. How long will it take the new regulation to be put in place? First of all, I want to thank the Minister for this. We need to do everything we can to encourage our students to seek post-secondary education and avail themselves of every opportunity to enhance their life.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has set an arbitrary application deadline of about six weeks prior to the program that you would like to be sponsored for by student financial assistance. It is clear that the NWT Student Financial Assistance Program and the arbitrary application deadlines do not have the flexibility to meet the needs of our students. It is also clear to me, Mr. Speaker, that this system has had a negative effect on post-secondary education for several northern students.

Some students have had to take summer upgrading in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting the motion. I think this is an extremely unfortunate circumstance we find ourselves in today. However, as I said in an earlier presentation today, I think we have to uphold a high standard and I will also say that nobody who is elected to the Assembly has a God given or superior right to sit in that Cabinet. This is a choice that is made. It is a responsibility bestowed, it is an honour placed on Members who are equals to oversee departments and responsibilities on our behalf and there is no dishonour on sitting on this side of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me whether all income support workers in the NWT are now trained to do rent calculations, and how are communities without permanent income support workers, how is the rent being calculated in those communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.