Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about an university/college entrance program. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance had wanted some ideas on how to spend any surplus money and in keeping with the motion that had been passed last session that we should spend money on education, I am making a specific recommendation that this government should develop and deliver a one-year university/college entrance preparation program. Currently, the federal government does fund certain students to upgrade and gain admission into university and college. This program has been evolving since 1968. The problems are first, that all long-term Northerners do not get funding for this program. The second problem and probably even more outstanding, is the fact that the north does not deliver such a program here so people receiving this funding could enrol in a program. The problem now is that this money is just being used for upgrading and other students are going south to receive their university and college preparation.
The solution as I am saying is that the government needs to develop and deliver a university/college entrance program which would refresh students academically who have been out of school for a long time, teach them success skills for learning, how to learn, how to study, how to manage their time and very importantly how to do research and how to write a paper. Without these skills, students have a very difficult time surviving university or college. The program I envision would be funded by student financial assistance for one year and it would be for all long-term Northerners. I have talked to the college, it would be relatively simple to implement such a course and would be relatively cheap as well.
Mr. Speaker, we simply cannot continue to send people to college or university without the tools to succeed. Too many have had bad experiences and never go back. It is a waste of money, time and human resources. We need to ensure that long-term Northerners have the tools to get off income support and to work for this government if they so wish. Mr. Speaker, a UCEP program is one way to do that. Thank you.
--Applause