Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This motion is partly in response to the results of our educational programs, which have created a situation where we have students graduating with a diploma which does not prepare them for the post-secondary education that they wish to take on. Unfortunately, when I went to school we had vocational and matriculation diplomas and it was very clear what they prepared you for in terms of post-secondary. Today we don’t have that.

I know the Minister is aware of this and is working with committees and others, his staff, to make sure that we plug that hole, but in the meantime we have created a bolus of people of various ages now that have these deficient Grade 12 diplomas. There is a federal program UCEP, which is available for students to help with their upgrading, but it’s insufficient for the demand that has been created, and it’s only applicable to status Indians and Inuit under the DIAND program.

There is overwhelming evidence, Mr. Speaker, that investing in education pays big dividends. We’re facing issues of poverty and unemployment and participation in society. These will all be benefited and resolved through this action. I look forward to any other comments, but I will be supporting this motion, obviously, and will be requesting a recorded vote.