Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the first time.
Bill 7 has had first reading.
Motion carried; Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, read a first time.
Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with second reading of Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member is seeking consent to proceed with second reading of Bill 7. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may proceed with second reading, Mr. Lafferty.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Student Financial Assistance Act to raise the maximum aggregate of the principal amounts of all student loans that may be made by the Government of the Northwest Territories by $3 million for fiscal year 2009–2010 and thereafter. A minor amendment is also made to one provision to improve the French version of the term “ordinary place of residence.”
Bill 7 has had second reading.
Motion carried; Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, read a second time and referred to a standing committee.
Item 20, Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Item 21, report of Committee of the Whole. Item 22, third reading of bills.
Colleagues, before we disperse today I would like to extend the thanks of the Legislature to the pages who have served us so well during this session. I have said it before but it bears repeating: it is such a pleasure to see young people in our Chamber and participating in our legislative system. Our thanks to students from schools in Fort Resolution, Hay River North, Hay River South, Fort Smith, Hay River Reserve, Inuvik Boot Lake, Inuvik Twin Lakes, and Gametì. Thank you, as well, to the schools, the chaperones and the staff who make this program possible.
I’m pleased to report on the Assembly’s initiative to provide Legislative Assembly broadcasting services to the communities of the Northwest Territories. Although we still have some work to do to enable us to provide our signal to all communities, our staff have been working in close contact with the 24 communities that are currently receiving our signal. During this four week sitting we have broadcast our proceedings in ten of the 11 official languages of the Northwest Territories. The Assembly would like to thank the community representatives who have assisted us with this project. We will continue to work diligently to expand the service to all the communities using all of the official languages of the Northwest Territories.
I am fully aware, colleagues, that our work as Members does not cease when we leave this Chamber. As we return to our constituencies, to Ministerial duties and to our homes and families, I wish you all safe travels. May you exercise sound judgment as you work for the benefit of the people of the Northwest Territories.
I would like to also urge Members to mark Remembrance Day, wherever you may be on November 11, and to enjoy the holiday season, which will soon be upon us before we know it. I look forward to reconvening this House on February 4, 2009.
