Debates of March 10, 2005 (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week, I raised the issue of access to federal funding for the University and College Entry Program, known as the UCEP program. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment made a commitment to speak with the federal government about the discriminatory nature of the program towards individuals of Metis heritage. I have follow-up questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Given that there are more people, both status and non-status, to access the UCEP program than there is space and given that it may take some time before the federal government will align the federal criteria to recognize the rights of Metis people which have already been recognized and integrated into many federal program areas, will the Minister consider finding the resources to increase the capacity of programs immediately and will the government show leadership to the federal government by permitting Metis access to spaces in the program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 591-15(3): University And College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can certainly consider putting extra money to support students to access programs into the business plan and take a look at how much support we have for that approach. I am prepared next week, when Mr. Scott is here, to raise the issue with the Minister. I would hope that the federal government would recognize their responsibility and live up to their responsibilities by putting some money into the program to deal with the current demands just from status people and that they would also fund the program so that Metis people could access it.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 591-15(3): University And College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s commitment to go to bat in terms of getting extra funding for the Metis people. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister inform the House about how the UCEP program differs from the upgrading programs provided in the communities? I am looking for information on the content and format of the programs and not the funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 591-15(3): University And College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In many ways there isn’t a significant difference in the program. The biggest one is that adult basic education can be undertaken by anybody. The USEP is designed to provide travel expenses, living expenses, tuition and books for people who can achieve university level entrance within one year. That’s probably the biggest difference, because adult basic education could require somebody taking ABE programs two or three years to get to university level entrance.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 591-15(3): University And College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Minister. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister look into the possibilities of using GNWT’s additional resources? He made a commitment earlier to look at that to increase the capacity of the UCEP to make it more accessible to the NWT residents, especially through the student financial services in regard to the Metis people. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 591-15(3): University And College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s always something we could take a look at. About seven years ago, Mr. Speaker -- maybe not that long, five or six years ago -- there was a forum that was empowered to review the Student Financial Assistance program and provide the Minister of the day with a number of recommendations. One of the specific directions they were given was to provide advice on to whom or what sorts of programs should be supported through student financial assistance. They held a number of public hearings and invited people from every community in the Northwest Territories to attend hearings and provide advice. The report they sent back to the Minister of the day was that student financial assistance should not be used for programs except those leading to diplomas, certificates or university or college degrees. So the program has since that time been governed by that approach. Certainly we could take a look at whether or not that’s consistent with what Members and the public think is still appropriate. So we’ll examine it, yes.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 591-15(3): University And College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the response from the Minister. Can the Minister inform this House with an action plan as to how he plans to get the attention of the federal government to look at its policies of how it’s administered or funded through our government in terms of assisting aboriginal peoples? However, on this program we do not include the Metis people. So what type of action plan is he going to look at and when can I expect something to see that things are getting done by this government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 591-15(3): University And College Entrance Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I already committed in this House that by the time business plans are presented to the committees that I would update Members of the House on any actions I had taken to try and achieve this. As the Premier had noted earlier, there is an opportunity for all Members to lobby the federal Minister next week and I would certainly welcome the Members’ intervention on this issue as I would hope to intervene as well. Thank you.