Debates of March 7, 2005 (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to continue my questions with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the policy from the federal government. I’m not too sure what I’m hearing. What I’d like to know is, the eligibility for Metis funding, taking the federal government to task on the discrimination in terms of funding Metis people who want to improve their educational ability to enter into university or college. The federal government has a discrimination policy on aboriginal people. I want to know from the Minister what he is specifically trying to do to have the glasses come off the federal government and look at their discrimination policy. Thank you.

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

Return To Question 559-15(3): University And College Entrance Funding For Metis Students

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have, as I’ve indicated to the Member, already written to the federal Minister. I will, if an opportunity presents itself…Perhaps since we will be in Ottawa in April, we may have an opportunity to put the case face to face to the federal government. I have also communicated with the MP for the Northwest Territories, Mrs. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, to express concern about this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 559-15(3): University And College Entrance Funding For Metis Students

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister inform this House if he has talked to other Members across Canada who have maybe a similar situation in terms of the funding for the Metis people under this program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 559-15(3): University And College Entrance Funding For Metis Students

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure if other jurisdictions would have this issue, because in the Northwest Territories it’s a unique situation where we deliver the program on behalf of the federal government. Normally the federal government provides the funding to bands across Canada. It’s not delivered by governments. I could look into whether or not the Yukon is doing it, because that might be the only other jurisdiction where a similar approach would be happening. If that is the case, then I would be quite pleased to work with the Minister from the Yukon collectively.

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

Supplementary To Question 559-15(3): University And College Entrance Funding For Metis Students

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s a crying shame in this day and age that the…

Crying shame.

…crying shame that we’re to get our people into education and college programs and university programs and this policy is stopping a lot of people in the Northwest Territories. I want to ask what other alternative plans this government is doing in terms of ensuring that Metis people have the same capacity or same ability to enter into university or college programs as the Dene or Inuit. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 559-15(3): University And College Entrance Funding For Metis Students

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT offers programs that are available to everybody, whether they’re Metis, aboriginal or non-aboriginal, for adult literacy and basic education. Those courses are offered through the college and in the last year have been offered in 25 of 33 communities. So the government is committing a significant amount of money, somewhere in the area of about $3 million a year for this kind of programming across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 559-15(3): University And College Entrance Funding For Metis Students

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, then I guess I’m wondering why this government is in the same boat as the federal government in terms of even though we administer the UCEP program, we’re following the same policy. So we are also discriminating against the Metis people in the Northwest Territories. We’re in the same boat, I guess. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 559-15(3): University And College Entrance Funding For Metis Students

No, I’d disagree with the Member. We do not discriminate. Our programs are available to everybody in the Northwest Territories. Our programs are available for everybody. If the Member is suggesting that we should give UCEP back to the federal government then we could do that, but it would probably mean that there would be less money available in the Northwest Territories. Our programs, the ones offered by the GNWT, are universally available to all members of the public. Thank you.