Debates of June 6, 2006 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, graduation ceremonies are taking place across the NWT. Every region speaks about the high number of graduates they have in their communities, and that’s a good story, Mr. Speaker.

Now comes the next step: going off to college. There, Mr. Speaker, lies a lot of my concerns as a Regular MLA. When many of these students go on to college, they apply for student financial assistance. While we continue to have the best support for post-secondary students in the country, there are still a few bugs that could be ironed out. One of the major concerns, Mr. Speaker, that I hear about in Inuvik is the fact that students attending schools in the South receive the same amount as students living in the North. Is the high cost of living not factored into the amounts allocated? The cost of living continues to escalate, but the amount that students receive stays the same. I have spoken to students outside of Inuvik who wanted to quit because it was becoming more difficult to attend college on the assistance they receive.

Mr. Speaker, while it is the responsibility of the students to help arrange their financing for school, we should do all we can to encourage students to attend post-secondary institutions and do all we can to assist them. The North will be the major beneficiary of the education of northerners. I will have questions at the appropriate time for Shawn Horcoff’s uncle. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

---Applause