Thank you, Mr. Minister. Does the committee responsible for overseeing this bill have any comments? Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review of Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, on January 24, 2001.

The amendment removes the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment as the last avenue of appeal for students who disagree with decisions the department makes about Student Financial Assistance Program eligibility. An appeal board made up of five individuals, one of which must be a post-secondary student receiving student financial assistance, replaces the Minister. This amendment is being brought forward in response to a committee recommendation to remove the Minister from the appeal process made last spring.

A further amendment provides that the department can create regulations to determine the criteria that establishes the amount of funding that each student is entitled to. This amendment is being made to allow for current practices within the department and is more or less housekeeping in nature.

Another amendment allows the department to provide an affirmative action program for disabled students. This would provide for specialized equipment and tutoring to ensure that a disabled student could be successful in their studies.

The written submissions that the committee received from the Northwest Territories Student Coalition and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation indicated general support for the bill.

The Members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs have no substantive difficulties with supporting Bill 14. Individual members of the committee may have comments to make as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring in any witnesses.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, I will.

Does the committee agree?

Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses in please? Mr. Minister, could you introduce your witnesses for the record?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On my right is Mark Cleveland, the deputy minister of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. On my left is Rebecca Veinott, legal counsel. Thank you.

Welcome. General comments? Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to ask the Minister to confirm some commitments made in committee on the issue of this amendment. There were two issues of specific concern, and verbal commitments were made. For the benefit of our colleagues and for the public, I would like to raise those issues for confirmation again by the Minister in the House.

The first issue was the make-up of the board, and the commitment that it would have regional representation and not just be comprised of people who happen to live in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Minister, would you like to respond?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I do wish to confirm the Member's request that the committee will be made up of five individuals, one of whom will be a representative from the post-secondary level, a student advisor. The other four will be comprised of representation from the regional, aboriginal governments. The make-up of that group will not be representation from government employees.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That brings me to the second issue, the necessity for clarification. The concern was, were you talking specifically Education, Culture and Employment employees or all government employees? The concern being that you could be ruling out a significant segment of the population. There was concern about education employees, particularly ones related to the department in this area. Could the Minister clarify that? Our recollection from the minutes was that the intent was to exclude Education, Culture and Employment employees but possibly leave the option open for other departments far removed from this particular program. Thank you.

The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, very definitely, Education, Culture and Employment employees will not be part of the committee. Other government employees...it is not our intention in that area either to appoint these to this committee.

Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To be clear, the Minister does intend to exclude all GNWT employees from sitting on this board, including board employees of all the boards and agencies? Thank you.

The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We would exclude employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories. However, I have to remain a bit open on boards and agencies, because we may find there are individuals who are members of DEAs, for example, who would be good individuals to be appointed. We do not wish to exclude those potential individuals. It is not our intent to go that route. However, I have to be concerned when the Member refers to boards and agencies. As we know, there are many good individuals throughout the Northwest Territories who are members of various boards and agencies that somehow have a connection to this government.

Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just so it is clear, it is not the intent of the committee to try to overly restrict the Minister. That is why we were asking for the definition. Our thoughts were that Education, Culture and Employment employees would be restricted, but people from Public Works or from RWED or wherever, in addition to the other general population who may be good calibre, or board members who may possibly be appointed. Thank you.

The honourable Minister for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We can certainly look at that, to proceed on that basis. Thank you.