Clause 3.

Thank you, committee. To the bill as a whole.

Does committee agree that Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act, is now ready for third reading?

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree this concludes our consideration of Bill 16?

Thank you, committee. Bill 16 is now ready for third reading. Thank you to the Minister and your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Committee, the final bill we have agreed to consider is Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act. I will turn to the Minister responsible to introduce the bill. Minister Cochrane.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to be here today to introduce Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act. I'd like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for their review.

This bill seeks to extend the term of Student Financial Assistance Appeal Board members from two years to up to four years. It also seeks to amend the qualifications for the post-secondary student representative on the appeal board to include individuals who have been a post-secondary student within five years of their appointment.

This bill will allow board members to establish continuity and build greater corporate knowledge over the course of their term. It will also allow for more effective use of training resources over the course of members' terms as the turnover in membership is expected to decrease.

The second proposed amendment in the bill would change the criteria for the student seat on the board, allowing recent post-secondary students to be appointed.

With that, I am pleased to answer any questions Members may have. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, which considered the bill, for opening comments. Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Standing Committee on Social Development concluded its review of Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, on September 27, 2018, with a public hearing held at the Legislative Assembly building. Committee received no submissions from the public. Committee supports the government's change to extend the terms of appeal board members and broaden the qualifications necessary for the position of student representative. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions as we proceed with consideration of this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister, do you have witnesses you wish to bring into the Chamber?

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, please introduce your witnesses for the record.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my right is Mr. Andy Bevan, the assistant deputy minister for Labour and Income Security with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. On my left is Ms. Christina Brownlee, the legislative counsel with the Department of Justice. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Welcome back to the witnesses. I will open the floor to general comments. Seeing none, we will proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the bill, deferring the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Committee, please turn to page 1 of the bill. If you agree with the clause, please reply accordingly after I read it out. Clause 1.

Thank you. Clause 2.

Thank you. No more clauses. Committee, to the bill as a whole, does committee agree that Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, is now ready for third reading?

Thank you. Bill 17 is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree this concludes our consideration of Bill 17?