Debates of October 20, 2006 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has set an arbitrary application deadline of about six weeks prior to the program that you would like to be sponsored for by student financial assistance. It is clear that the NWT Student Financial Assistance Program and the arbitrary application deadlines do not have the flexibility to meet the needs of our students. It is also clear to me, Mr. Speaker, that this system has had a negative effect on post-secondary education for several northern students.

Some students have had to take summer upgrading in order to meet the entrance requirements for post-secondary education. Some of these students missed the application deadline because they had not yet been accepted for their post-secondary schooling. Once notified that they were accepted to their course, it was too late to apply. In many cases, they are disqualified for a full semester for their student financial assistance simply because of the deadline date for the application. Some of these potential students then abandon their pursuit of their post-secondary education because of this delay.

I have a constituent who missed the application deadline by two weeks because of a family loss, and even on appeal the student was denied the financial assistance program for the first semester for her second year of post-secondary education.

Government programs like the Student Financial Assistance Program need to respond to the varied personal circumstances and situations of the applicant. Mr. Speaker, the overwhelming majority of Canadian jurisdictions have flexibility in their SFA application process to allow students the ability to access the program without an arbitrary deadline that limits their options. Mr. speaker, in British Columbia, they actually allow students to apply six weeks prior to the end of their program and still qualify for student financial assistance.

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the application process for the Student Financial Assistance Program, it is necessary for the department to take a client-based approach that meets the needs of northerners and do away with the arbitrary deadline approach which only appears to meet the needs of the Department of ECE. I will have questions today for the Minister of Education on this matter.

---Applause