Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak about what I see as an unfair application of aboriginal rights by the Government of Canada as they related to the Metis people.

The failure of the federal government to recognize and provide a safe process to access programs and services to the Metis as an office to status Indians is unacceptable. It is even more unacceptable, Mr. Speaker, that the Government of the Northwest Territories is forced to follow the federal policies and return it as a royalty for the federal programs to be delivered on their behalf. The Government of the Northwest Territories has taken many steps to address this issue. It has to walk many more miles. One example is the extension of the health benefits to Metis people that matches those available to status Indians and Inuit. This is a positive and proactive approach that recognizes Metis people. This approach needs to be applied to the student financial assistance program as it relates to the Metis people. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment has extended the same access to core funding on student financial assistance for the Metis as enjoyed by the status Indians and Inuit. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the federal government does not treat student financial assistance to the Metis the same as goes to the status people on the income tax. This has the effect of making this acknowledgment of the Metis rights a largely symbolic gesture.

Student financial services program delivers a university/college entrance program on USEP on behalf of the federal government. As its name implies, USEP is a two-semester program that gives status Indians rights to attend and succeed in post-secondary institutions.

Mr. Speaker, to paraphrase the old Five Man Electrical Band song, long hair and Metis need not apply. Seriously, Mr. Speaker, I cannot fault the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for this, they are simply following the criteria of eligibility imposed by the federal government. However, this does not mean that there is not a problem that needs to be addressed. There is a gap between adult literacy basic education and entering post-secondary institutions. The USEP program addresses this for status Indians. What program is this for Metis programs? Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, it is time to set up another parallel process like the Metis health benefits for the university/college entry program and offer it to Aurora College. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause