Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, residents of the Northwest Territories should be able to trust their government to deliver what it promises. When government makes a commitment about a program, the public should know it is a pledge. For example, when we promised to support harvesters, that support should be delivered. At self-government tables, aboriginal governments should be able to count on the Government of the Northwest Territories' word.
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear the Premier agree with this when I questioned him last Wednesday. I note his response on page 1483 of unedited Hansard.
Not that, Mr. Speaker, the change cannot or will not happen, but when change takes place, promises still need to be respected. Typically, this government does. When the salary for a position is reduced through collective bargaining, the incumbent is protected. Their salary may be red circled, but they are still protected. In the past, when the Business Incentive Policy was changed, firms were grandfathered.
Mr. Speaker, our students deserve the same. I have a constituent who, prior to embarking on a new journey to learn a profession, went to student financial assistance to find out what she would qualify for. She was told that if successful academically, she would qualify for remissible loans through to the end of her program. After one semester in her program, the rules were changed. She no longer qualifies for remissible loans. Mr. Speaker, they must now be repaid.
Mr. Speaker, my constituent is a mature student with a family. Before making a major commitment to change her life and go back to school, she thought long and hard about the benefits available from student financial assistance and her personal financial situation. Mr. Speaker, she was told what to expect, a promise was made. After more than 20 years away from school, she went back. A change part way through a program like that is unfair.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories now has a responsibility to follow up its commitment to her and students like her by grandfathering their benefits to the same level that they were promised. As we moved into the new program, students who were receiving student financial assistance should not have received less than they would have under the old rules. Anything less is neither fair nor equitable, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my constituent and others in the same situation deserve to have this government stand by its promises.
-- Applause