I am the committee by default. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Legislation reviewed Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, at its public meeting in Yellowknife on March 18, 1993. The committee would like to thank the Minister of Education, the Honourable Richard Nerysoo, for presenting this bill and responding to committee Members' questions.
Bill 19 would amend the Student Financial Assistance Act to dissolve the student financial assistance board and to delete all references to the board within the act. Currently, the student financial assistance board is appointed by the Minister to make recommendations to the Minister on matters relating to student financial assistance that are referred to the board by the Minister, and on any other matters related to student financial assistance that the board considers appropriate.
Members of the Standing Committee on Legislation had the benefit of a thorough review of another standing committee on the removal of the board. The Department of Education requested in January, 1992, that the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions review the proposal to eliminate this board. The standing committee reported to the House on its review in Committee Report 7-12(3), presented to the House on December 8, 1992.
The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions noted that the student financial assistance board had provided very limited advice to the Minister since the current board was established in 1989. No specific recommendations had been forwarded to the Minister and the Minister made no formal request for board comments. As well, other channels of communication existed to offer more effective input on student needs or policy deficiencies. In its report, the standing committee recommended that the Minister proceed with the elimination of the student financial assistance board.
Members of the Standing Committee on Legislation questioned the Minister on the effectiveness of the other channels with respect to input on policy or student concerns. In general, Members were supportive of this bill and on March 18, 1993, carried a motion to report Bill 19 to the Assembly as ready for committee of the whole. This concludes my remarks on Bill 19, Mr. Chairman. I invite other committee Members to make additional comments on this bill. Qujannamiik.