Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to speak on a topic that was referenced by Mr. Bell and Mr. Miltenberger, student financial assistance. When we were reviewing the budgets and business plans, we met with the Minister earlier this year during the interim, and talked about the transition to the new plan. At the time, the Minister told us the department would grandfather students who were in the system. We thought this meant we would be looking after students who need grandfathering and students who needed transition.

Mr. Speaker, I have just consulted Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary. In there, it says a grandfather clause is "a clause creating an exemption based on circumstances previously existing." I understand this to mean, Mr. Speaker, that no one should be penalized when new rules are brought in.

Mr. Speaker, I have met with a number of students in the past few weeks. One student told me how she went to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment last fall and was told she would qualify for four semesters of grants. Based on that, she went back to university this January. Four months later, she was told "Whoops! You no longer qualify for grants under the new program. You only have access to repayable loans."

Mr. Speaker, I do not think that is our understanding of grandfathering. Under grandfathering, I think our committee believes that somebody should have been allowed to carry on under the old rules if they were more beneficial to them. They should not be penalized by the institution of the new rules.

I would like to comment, as Mr. Miltenberger mentioned, on the manual for student financial assistance. I think it almost takes four years of university to understand that manual. I do not know how people from the smaller communities, who may not have access to all of the resources of the department, will be able to complete the student application.

I think that needs to be simplified, and that this department needs to take a look at transition. As Mr. Bell said, let us reward success. We want to encourage Northerners to come back here successfully. We should see a transition that allows students who have completed their four semesters to carry on and get two more years of school. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause