Mahsi, Mr. Chair. There were concerns expressed about the lack of a career counsellor in the Tlicho region. Members understand that the area is currently served by the North Slave Career Centre in Yellowknife and that counsellors travel to the region on an infrequent basis.
Given the fact that the Tlicho region has been accorded regional status, by virtue of the land claim and self-government agreement, and the successes that Tlicho residents have achieved in post-secondary education, the committee is of the opinion that it would be appropriate to staff a career counsellor position in the region. This does not necessarily have to be a new position. A position could be staffed through attrition at the North Slave Career Centre. The department has agreed to examine this request in the 2007-2010 business planning exercise.
Members would also appreciate the opportunity to review and offer comment on the Aurora College corporate plan that is currently under development. The college is very important to the future of all northerners, and Members are anxiously awaiting the results of the college's consultation and the formulation of a corporate plan.
Income Security Programs
The Standing Committee on Social Programs supports the increases to the Student Financial Assistance Program. Students have been hit hard by tuition increases in the last number of years and our program has not kept pace. The planned increase will allow students to spend more of the money they receive for living expenses on just that, instead of tuition costs.
It is important to note that the $573,000 increase to the student financial assistance budget will only mean a maximum of $1,925 per semester for tuition and $400 for books. Current tuition and fee costs per semester at the University of Alberta range between $2,647.86 for a simple undergraduate program to $9,340.46 for the dentistry program. While we continue to have the best Student Financial Assistance Program in the country, it is clear that we do not cover all costs for tuition and books. These increases will mean that students will have an extra $325 in their pockets each semester.
The committee also supports increasing the senior citizens' supplementary benefit to $160 per month from $135. Seniors, for the most part, are on fixed incomes. Those who rely on the Canada Pension Plan for the bulk of their income are hard pressed to make ends meet in the supercharged economy that is the Northwest Territories today and this increased support is a welcome measure.
Members have also noted that there is a gap that hard-to-house people seem to fall into between the programs that are offered through the NWT Housing Corporation and the local housing authorities and the programs administered by income support. Members are aware of people living in substandard, private accommodations paid for by income support because they are no longer eligible for social housing for one reason or another.
It is hoped with the combining of these two programs under one authority that problems with hard-to-house people can be addressed.
Mr. Chair, at this time I would like to pass it over to Mr. Calvin Pokiak to conclude.