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.