Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act.
The main objective of this amendment is to provide for the establishment of an external board to serve as the final level of appeal for students who disagree with their assessments under the student financial assistance program.
Mr. Chairman, the changes proposed to the act originated with suggestions made by the Standing Committee on Social Programs in March, 2000, during its review of legislation to enable the re-design of the Student Financial Assistance Program. I would like to thank the committee for its recommendation that appeals be heard by an independent body.
At present, there are three levels of appeal for students who disagree with the decisions made under the Student Financial Assistance Program. The first level is to have the decision reviewed by the program manager. If the student is still dissatisfied, the second level of appeal is a review by an internal administrative review committee. The Minister serves as the final level of appeal.
This proposed amendment removes the Minister from the appeal process and provides for the establishment of a student financial assistance appeal board as the third and final level of appeal.
The board will be comprised of five members, one of whom must be a post-secondary student.
The other amendments to the bill are of a minor nature to clarify the existing regulation-making powers and to ensure the legislation is consistent with current practice.
Mr. Chairman, the amendments proposed in Bill 14 will result in a more independent and more transparent appeal process for the Student Financial Assistance Program. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.