One purpose of the consultation is to examine whether or not we should become like all other jurisdictions and not forgive any loans, maybe we should make all the loans repayable. I would argue the Member is missing the point. We have the most generous financial assistance package for any student in Canada. I do not know of any jurisdiction that guarantees students jobs to the same extent that this one does. This government hires more students per capita for summer jobs than any other government in Canada. It is unreasonable to say there should be a real expectation that everybody who is a student will get a job. Most of the students who qualify for the loans programs that are remissible will be P2s because they will have lived in the Northwest Territories for more than half their life, so they too will qualify under the affirmative action program. I have indicated that we are looking at revising the student financial assistance program. There are all sorts of options we are going to look at. Looking at extending the program to everybody so that it is provided on the same basis that it is to aboriginal students, can be one of the things that is up for discussion. If this House sees fit to provide millions more dollars, we can certainly do it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Charles Dent on Committee Motion 25-13(4): Recommendation To Retain Baffin And Keewatin Regional Librarians In The 1997-98 Budget
In the Legislative Assembly on February 25th, 1997. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 25-13(4): Recommendation To Retain Baffin And Keewatin Regional Librarians In The 1997-98 Budget
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 24th, 1997
Page 867
See context to find out what was said next.