Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Dent, for that very positive response. That sounds like an excellent idea that could be bundled with other information. Now, as to the students who may not have been able to comply with the regulations and didn’t successfully complete their first year of studies; on the repayment right now you have to pay the entire amount, which could be thousands of dollars, before you can go on with your second year. So essentially it means drop out of school, get a job, pay the government back, then revisit the issue of your education. Could the Minister also...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I imply from the Minister's response that he thinks if you're in post-secondary education you shouldn't be there unless you're smart enough to figure out the government's regulations. Anyway, I won't comment on that.

Mr. Speaker, I understand, from these regulations, that students are notified by letter at the beginning of the first semester. However, four months later can be a long time for a lot of students. Some of these kids are 18 years old. Does SFA notify the student at the end of the first semester of any changes to their program, or ask for any...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, sometimes there is a delay or an interval of up to six weeks or longer in some communities between the time that a person could theoretically be charged with an offence and when they would have a chance to have a preliminary examination of that charge in the courts. Mr. Speaker, the Minister himself referred to the increase in things such as drug busts, activity in drug trade, certainly very publicized situations with vandalism in some of the communities like Fort Smith and other places. It would seem that, in fact, the number of cases coming before the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 48-15(3) and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak in support of the anti-drinking and driving campaign launched by the Minister of Transportation on October 6th.

---Applause

The campaign is aimed at making the public aware of the changes to the rules and consequences of drinking and driving in the Northwest Territories. Approved amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act will come into force on December 1, 2004. These changes are a substantive improvement to the act, providing enforcement officers with another tool to get drivers who insist on getting behind the wheel, after...

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Any further general comments? If not, I believe that concludes our discussion on that statement. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Any further general comments on Premier Handley’s sessional statement? Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. I have on the list Mr. Braden and Mr. Yakeleya for general comments. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Krutko.

I will call Committee of the Whole to order, and the first item we have today is Minister’s Statement 48-15(3), Sessional Statement, that was presented by Premier Handley. Are there any general comments? We’re going to ask Premier Handley to respond to any comments and questions from where he’s sitting in the Chamber and I would ask the Members if there are any general comments. Mr. Menicoche.