Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about Student Financial Assistance. Mr. Speaker, recently many college and university students went back to school. I am asking our esteemed colleagues across the hall to ensure that those students can continue going back to those colleges and universities by maintaining the current rates of student financial assistance and, in fact, increasing them in some places.

Mr. Speaker, the current assistance we provide to students is only a portion of the actual cost of attending university or college. Tuition rates, book allowance and travel costs seldom cover the actual amounts students have to spend. I am concerned that the appointment of a task force by the Honourable Charles Dent, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, means that this government is looking to cut funding levels. The report has not been tabled yet, but the task force conducted public hearings on potential changes to Student Financial Assistance. Many students do not have other sources of income other than summer jobs to help pay for a year of food and shelter. Older students with families who are trying to better their education are often hardest hit. Students who struggle to pay their way can find themselves with bad credit ratings when they cannot pay all their bills.

I must warn against comparing the Government of the Northwest Territories Student Financial Assistance Program to other jurisdictions. The opportunities for northern students to take courses close to home is quite limited. While the Aurora and Nunavut Arctic Colleges are filling roles, many students still must travel thousands of miles from home to study at university. Not only are their travel costs high, but the cost of trying to stay in touch with family members is also high. The Members of this current Assembly have identified education as the answer to many of the north's social problems and unemployment rates. Providing adequate student financial assistance is an investment in the north's future and as someone much wiser than I once said, if you think education is expensive, think of the cost of not .supporting education. Thank you.

--Applause