Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we are all aware that specific components of maximizing northern employment cater to those who graduate from post-secondary education, either with degrees or diplomas and it is a way to help them in transition to the workforce. There is an internship program there and transition program and also programs for community graduating teachers and nurses and so forth and I believe social workers as well, but, I'm wondering about situations where students with disabilities who may not have finished a conventional college program or diploma or degree program but I would think they need to have as much help to make the transition into the working world. I'm wondering if the Minister is aware whether or not this program or any other program in the department is meeting that need. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the internship program applies to degree and diploma graduates, Mr. Chair. However, there is an area there we do need to look at with regard to the programs for individuals with disabilities to see if we could look at certificate programs to apply as well for those individuals because we are aware that some of those programs that individuals are taking don't apply at the particular moment, and we need to look at that, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Ms. Lee.

Thank you. I guess the Minister is considering talking about the possibility of extending or redefining maximizing northern employment to include maybe those who obtain certificates, rather than a conventional diploma degree. If the Minister wants to pursue that, that will be a good thing because I do believe this is a highly effective program. I hear nothing but good things about the maximizing northern employment program and having been a student myself, not too long ago, I know it's always difficult for secondary students to finish school. They come back and they want to work here and you know often they are told they don't have the experience, and it's really a good way by this program to get a foot in the door, prove themselves and gain the experience and so on.

But I'm looking more into general situations. What are we doing with the students that we are producing who have disabilities? I guess part of the difficulty in this area is the fact that there are just so many different categories of disability. It could be physical disability where they may need physical equipment and that would address that or hearing impairment, or in a more physical sense, but then we have a lot of disabilities that affect the level of learning or ability to have a normal life. I'm getting more concerned about the fact, and I've mentioned this in my other statements in the House, that we have embraced inclusionary policies to include all students with any category or extent of disability into our school system, but what do we do when they finish our Grade 12? What is the department doing? What programs are there to help them through the stage after they get Grade 12 in terms of them getting through school in post secondary education and then when they come back to work and come back to the North, to maximize their potential? Could the Minister advise me as to what specific program the department has to address this area? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do have several programs to assist students, individuals with disabilities. We have an $8,000 study grant so that they can be helped through various programs that they may wish to take, and there is that support. Additionally, Mr. Chair, we have a fund of approximately $100,000 that we have passed on to the NWT Council for Persons with Disabilities that individuals can access and we allow the Council for Disabled, who are in the best position to be able to do the appropriate judgment as to who needs and who should gain assistance, Mr. Chair. We also have a career services department that we provide. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is that $8,000 study grant available to...How does that program work? Is that under the offices of student financial assistance or is it a separate program in the department that students with disabilities would apply for? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll ask Ms. Allen to give us a hand here to address that question.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Ms. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, it is under the SFA program. There is funding available for assessment up to $1,000, and then in addition to that there's an $8,000 grant for each academic year for persons with disabilities in the post-secondary system.

Thank you, Ms. Allen. Ms. Lee.

Thank you. Is there a maximum cap on this fund, or can anybody apply year after year as long as they get into post-secondary education? Is there a specific definition as to what the eligible post-secondary education institution is?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Ms. Allen.

The federal government has a study grant, and the NWT has followed the rates similar to the federal government. It went from $5,000 to $8,000 this past year. In terms of a cap, it's per academic year, but it's per program as well. I'm sorry, was there a second part to that question?

Thank you, Ms. Allen. Ms. Lee, could you clarify the second part of your question? Ms. Lee.

Yes, I was just wondering if the eligibility of this program is limited to the term of the program. For example, if a student with a disability goes for two years or four years, is there a cut-off after that time? The second part of the question is what is the eligibility requirement in terms of the school that you can attend under this grant? What is the definition of post-secondary education under this program? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Ms. Allen.

It must be an accredited post-secondary institution that provides licensed, certified diploma degree-granting studies.

Thank you, Ms. Allen. Ms. Lee.

Thank you. I'm still looking for what the government is doing for those who are not able to go to the conventional post-secondary education programs. What are we doing with those with autism or learning disabilities, but who are still able to...I'm not talking about students who can go to university but they're in a wheelchair, or they have a hearing problem, or they have a sight problem, or they need a special bed or something physical. I'm talking about a lot of students in our school system and students who have gone through our school system with a disability that impedes their learning ability. They may have FAS/FAE, or they're autistic. There are a whole slew of causes for learning disabilities. We send them out of our Grade 12 system, but when they finish Grade 12 they're not able to get to a college or a university for a two-year diploma or a four-year degree, but they still need to have assistance and they are entitled to the assistance, I believe, from the government to make the transition into the working world so they don't end up in the income support office or rely on their families. Other than the $100,000 grant that you give to the Council for Disabled Persons, is there a program in the government that allows those students with learning disabilities to go and get education after high school? Thank you.