Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak today about a situation that has arisen with a constituent in his efforts to get schooling to fulfill his apprenticeship program. He is currently attending NAIT to finish his second year electrical apprenticeship. He has set himself up with accommodation, transportation and other logistics in Edmonton to conduct his schooling. An opportunity has come for him to start his third year schooling almost immediately upon the completion of his second year. He is comfortable being there and familiar with his surroundings, which is conducive to him ultimately being successful at his schooling, training and in life. It would make perfect sense, Mr. Speaker, considering he has the required hours to let him stay at NAIT and conclude his third year.

The problem is, Mr. Speaker, common sense and the ability to be flexible is often thrown out the window by idiotic government policy. The government’s answer to this young man is to finish your time at NAIT, move yourself back to Yellowknife, we have a seat for you waiting in Fort Smith in April. This would impact him in a negative way, Mr. Speaker. He would obviously earn less at work in the time that it takes for him to get back here and before he goes to Fort Smith. It will cost him more to get back to Yellowknife and then to Fort Smith. And, in fact, by the time the course starts in Fort Smith he would have already been done his third year schooling and making more money working here back home in Yellowknife.

I find the response to his request to stay at NAIT is totally and completely unacceptable. A stated goal of this government is to train and develop a northern workforce. Why then would we put roadblocks in the way of anyone pursuing an apprenticeship? Is there not any flexibility in the policy and why, Mr. Speaker, are people who pursue the trades and apprenticeships treated differently than those going to college or university? Why do we force them to go to Fort Smith? We should encourage them to go to Fort Smith, not force them to go. We don’t force college students who are attending Mount Royal College or Red Deer College in the South to stay in the Northwest Territories because the program is offered here. Why are apprentices any different, Mr. Speaker?

The government should never, ever be an impediment to someone’s pursuit of training and a career. Why are we not fully supporting this young man and others like him who find themselves in similar circumstances, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.