Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to pick up on something that Mr. Miltenberger left on. I am very concerned about the sunsetting of the Community Skills for Work program. I guess to a larger degree the whole monies available for adult basic education. I think in committee, we heard either the Minister or the deputy tell us that it is possible, if you live in a small community, to wait two to three years for adult basic education.
We have heard the problem in Yellowknife, as I believe the deputy told us, is not so much a problem of waiting lists, but whether or not the course is offered at a given time. I would argue that this is essentially the same problem for students who are looking to upgrade their education and get their high school diplomas.
Now, if I am 24 or 25 years old and I have left school without graduating and now I want to go back to get my high school diploma, I would like to ask the Minister what options are available for me? As I understand it, there is nothing available in the evening for me to get my high school diploma if I choose to go that route.
So, what I am saying is, if I would like to stay employed during the day so I can pay the bills, and go to school in the evenings, this is not available. Essentially, what I have to do is quit my job, go on income support and attend the college. The Minister has told us, even though the community skills for work program has sunsetted or will sunset, they are going to look at possibly reinstating it. That is great. He reassures us that there is $2.5 million a year for ABE available through the college, but as Mr. Miltenberger mentioned, this typically addresses programs like nursing or business, or specifically programs like this that allow you to do some upgrading to get into college, but does not provide the necessary course to get a high school diploma.
If I am interested in just getting the basics, just getting a high school diploma but I missed the boat, quit school for whatever reasons when I was younger, I am now really stuck if I am in my 20's or 30's. I can go back to high school, but how many 30 year olds really feel comfortable going back to high school during the day? I do not think this is realistic.
I think we can see that we need some evening programs available for people who would like to get their high school, and I would like to have the Minister address this concern and tell us what he plans to do about ABE, especially to allow students to get a high school diploma. The very basic, simplest thing here, nothing fancy.
I would also like to discuss student financial assistance. In this regard, I understand we are looking at various semesters that we might allow students to access funding for. We do not provide any student financial assistance for those who might be middle aged, have to leave work to go back to get an education to get a high school diploma. That is my understanding. If the Minister could address a couple of those questions. Thank you.