Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, speaking in reply to my question yesterday about whether decisions would be made about student residences in the regions, in advance of completion of the Avery, Cooper study, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo, stated that, "No final determinations have been
made." This clearly suggests to me that nothing has yet changed and all options are open until the study is completed and the recommendations can be considered. This is the same message Mr. Nerysoo gave in committee of the whole this past fall.
However, I understand that the proposed new funding formula for student accommodation will make drastic changes to the funds available to support student residences effective April 1, 1995. For example, I'm told by the Baffin divisional board that the new funding formula provides $7 per day per student for food, yet actual costs in Pond Inlet and Iqaluit are now $13 a day and $21 a day for food. The formula provides for about one staff member for each 12 students; yet present staffing levels are higher. By the way, the Ukiivik Residence in Iqaluit certainly does not have 19 staff members for 15 students; it has only nine. I wonder which residence the Minister was talking about in this House yesterday when he said it had 19 staff members for 15 students.
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask Members of this House, how can the Minister say, on the one hand, that "no final determinations have been made," quoting his words, when the boards have been given notice in writing of a new funding formula for this coming fiscal year, this past December. I would like to also ask, why is the Minister undertaking an expensive study and inviting everyone, including boards of education and Members of this House, to participate in good faith in this review and assuring us that no decision has been made to close the residences when the new funding formula has already been put in place. I am going to call on the Minister to honour his pledges in this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause