Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are definitely going to monitor this, but at the moment we feel that it is fair. There may be cases that far exceed this requirement. We feel that it is fair for the moment. Thank you.
Debates of June 28th, 2000
This is page numbers 241 - 294 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.
Topics
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 284
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Bell.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Can the Minister tell us how many students have ever approached the department to access this funding this spring?
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Ootes.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This has just been introduced with the new Student Financial Assistance Program. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Bell.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that, but I am sure students are already filing their applications and are applying. I know the deadline is the 15th of next month. I am wondering how many applications have come in thus far. I am sure the department is tracking them. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Ootes.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Bell.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you. One of the concerns we have is that disabled students might not be aware that this money is actually available for them this year. Mr. McLeod raised a concern in committee about a constituent of his who the community was basically doing fundraising for because that was the only way for this person to get to university.
She was not at all aware that the $5,000 was available and we had to look around. So we have concerns that possibly a lot of students may not be aware of the funding or may have to wade through a hundred and some page booklet to find reference to the funding.
I am wondering how the department is advertising the fact that this funding is available. How are they contacting people? What are they doing to get the news out there? Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have been talking to the non-governmental organizations and the schools and the college system to attempt to make individuals aware of the details of the program. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you. I thank the Minister for that response. Another concern we have is that permanently disabled people do not have access in the Northwest Territories to a pension that would ensure a basic level of income for them. This is common place in other jurisdictions. In Alberta, I believe it is called the AISH program, and we are concerned that the Northwest Territories does not have any sort of funding like this in place and being one of the only jurisdictions in Canada that does not, we have to ask why, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are aware that clients and some advocacy groups have asked that the Government of the Northwest Territories consider a program such as the one mentioned by the Member. They have asked that a policy and program be made available. At the moment, our provision, Mr. Chairman, is we provide disabled benefits of $175 a month beyond the other benefits that are provided. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you. I am wondering if the Minister can tell us how long that $175 a month has been available and if, upon the review that the department has done of that amount of money, that has been adequate. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is provided through the income support. I am not quite sure. I would have to check with Mr. Cleveland to see how long that has been in position. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Cleveland
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the $175 figure was instituted with the reform of the Income Support Program, which occurred four years ago, I would say. In terms of the Members question in respect to adequacy - we have had some discussions with NGOs, particularly with various levels of funding. I would not suggest that this is either adequate or inadequate. I think there certainly has been some interest in raising the number in some quarters. Thank you.
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Committee Motion 8-14(3): Additional Semester Entitlements Under Revised Student Financial Assistance Program (carried)
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 285
Brendan Bell Yellowknife South
Thank you. Given the concern and the push by advocacy groups, I think we can assume that this amount of money is deemed to be, in most quarters, inadequate. The committee is concerned about this when we see other jurisdictions in Canada. I believe all of them except Nunavut have disabled pensions that ensure a minimum level of income for permanently disabled persons. The fact that advocacy groups in the North have been insisting for a number of years that this be instituted, I think this committee feels strongly that something has to be done. It has been a few years. Nothing has been done over this time. This is not a new concern. This is something that has been raised in past budgets, and has been continually discussed. Given the time, and given the lack of action by government, the committee would like to move a motion in that regard. I will move that motion now, Mr. Chair.