Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The amounts on 9-24 are for student loans only. They do not include the student grants on page 9-13. Thank you.
Debates of Feb. 27th, 2003
This is page numbers 365 - 404 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th 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
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Devitt
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 27th, 2003
Page 388
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Ms. Lee.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The loans granted under this fund, is that part of that $8.5 million approximately on page 9-13?
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Devitt.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Devitt
Mr. Chairman, no, it's not part of the grant budget, it's included under advanced education. The amount we include is for the expense of writing off loans, forgiving loans or remitting loans. That is included in other O and M.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Ms. Lee.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Sandy Lee Range Lake
So then am I to understand that $8.4 million approved under page 9-13, is all of that, 100 percent of that is a grant and the loan fund works separately altogether?
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Devitt.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Devitt
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Member is correct.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Dent.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Mr. Chairman, I have a question about the student loans. I am specifically interested in the remission portion, which is the loans forgiven part here, I am assuming. Am I correct in understanding that there are now going to be different rates of remission for nursing students as compared to other students?
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Ootes.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Ms. Allen.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Chairperson, no. The answer is no. The nursing and the social work students will be getting an enhanced benefit of $3,000 in the first year, $3,000 in the second year, $5,000 in the third year and $5,000 in the fourth year. The remission on that will be the same as it is for student financial assistance students. If they are in large tax-base communities, it will be $1,000 for every three months and if they are in non-tax-base communities, it will be $2,000 for every three months. Thank you.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Dent.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The differential in the benefit that's provided, is there any concern that we might be open to a Charter challenge, this being a universal program? Is there any concern that other students might launch a challenge that says it's not fair that one class of student gets this benefit when another doesn't?
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Minister Ootes.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This came about because of the recruitment and retention policy that was developed for nurses and for social workers. Thank you.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you, Mr. Dent.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am aware of how it came about. I supported all the efforts of the government and the department to increase the numbers of northern residents trained for the nursing profession. The reason I was raising the question is I was wondering why we had placed this benefit in a universal program and why we hadn't left the program with the Department of Health and Social Services. If they are the ones who are looking for increased uptake, it would seem to make sense to me that you not tinker with the universal program, but that you leave the department most impacted the opportunity to provide the funding if that is where it was seen as necessary to provide the incentives. I just wanted to know if they had ever sought an opinion as to whether or not this would withstand a Charter challenge.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Minister Ootes.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand that Health and Social Services did seek some advice on that. We did not.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Dent.
Bill 3: Appropriation Act, 2003-2004
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Mr. Chairman, I will seek your guidance. I wonder if the Minister of Health and Social Services would be prepared to advise us on the results of that advice.