Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, under student grants, I noticed in the '97/98 estimates, it has gone from 11.5 in '96/97 to 12.4 in '97/98. There is a forced growth amount in that dollar amount because of the increased enrolment. Have the amounts of the student grants gone down? For example, is it still x-number of dollars for supplementary grants, x-number of dollars for basic grants, and so on.
Debates of Feb. 25th, 1997
Topics
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
Page 870
Edward Picco Iqaluit
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
Page 870
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
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
Page 870
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There have been no changes in the monetary amounts provided to
students for grants. Pending discussion expected to take place subsequent to the distribution of the discussion paper, we have made no significant changes to the program at all.
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Final question, Mr. Picco.
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
Page 871
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, is the intent of the discussion to look at decreases in the total allowable grants under the policy for students? If a student is eligible for a basic grant and a supplementary grant and x-number of dollars, the intent of the discussion paper is to see if we could lower that amount because of our fiscal situation. Who will he be discussing this with? Will he be talking to adult educators, students, colleges, what is the intent of the discussion paper? Thank you.
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The honourable Minister, Mr. Dent.
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
Page 871
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the driving factor for discussing student financial assistance is its continued growth and the fact the department's budget continues to shrink. What the changes will be, I cannot say. In this consultation, we all have to recognize that we do not have as many resources as we had a few years ago. We have more demand for the resources we do have. We do not have any preconceived notions. What we are doing with this discussion paper is trying to put on the table as many of the factors we can think about for people to discuss. We are intending it to be a broad based discussion which will include MLAs because I will be tabling the report, to students, to colleges, to interested parties east and west. We are looking for ideas as to how we can restructure the student financial assistance program to make sure that it continues in the future. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Todd, did you want to ask a question? No. Thank you. We are on page 9-26, grants, total grants is $12,583,000. Agreed?
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
Page 871
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you very much. Contributions. Mr. Steen.
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
Page 871
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the Minister under community income support deliveries, how many communities would that $1,410,000 address?
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Minister.
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
Page 871
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All of the communities in the Northwest Territories.
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Steen.
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
Page 871
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, one of the communities I represent would be willing to take on income support programs provided there was funding available on a full-time basis for that person. Is that where this funding would be addressed?
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. By the way, the details of grants covers 9-26, 9-27, 9-28, and 9-29. Mr. Minister.
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
Page 871
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Member is right, that is the line item where funding for that position would be based. What we do is allocate the resources based on a formula according to how many income support visits the community worker would have to - I lost my train of thought, Mr. Chairman. Let me start over again. There is a formula that we use to assess what the community contributions should be and it takes into account the number of consultations or visits with clients that a community worker would have to undertake in the course of a year. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Steen.
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
Page 871
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The amount of money available to communities is not negotiable, it is based on the formula.
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The honourable Minister, Mr. Dent.
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
Page 871
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Member is right. It is not really something that we are looking to negotiate. We have found the formula to be accurate in the 12 pilot projects we have run across the territories in different locations. The formula appeared to work in those locations. If a community had a reason to demonstrate there was a significant difference, we would be willing to discuss that with the community. The department is prepared to work with the community to demonstrate why the figure is reasonable and how they can deliver the services within what we have available as a resource. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.
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
Page 871
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, if the $1,410,000 is for every community in the territories, why does the town of Iqaluit have $3 million all by itself?
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
Page 871
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Minister.
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
Page 871
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The $3 million is not just the administration of the program, those are program dollars as well. We show the program for social assistance in a different location for all other communities. Because it is a contribution agreement between the GNWT and the town of Iqaluit, it includes both the delivery and the program dollars.