Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's my pleasure to introduce Bill 8 for consideration of the House. I have further comments, and I'll provide them at the time. Actually maybe I'll just provide them at this particular time and that way we'll keep the process moving a little faster.
First of all, I want to thank the committee for its hard and diligent work as well as, and particularly the chair Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, about her continued robust and relentless effort to ensure we raise Indigenous education standards for all, and I'm very, very appreciative and respectful the work.
I want to thank the Minister for acknowledging this important issue. It's -- it will help at least at minimum 20 students to change the narrative that we want to come back to bring enormous professional skills and so with her effort, this has helped -- this will help this process, and so I'm grateful for that.
I also would be remiss if I didn't note that she also brought this up in the previous Assembly, so she does deserve some credit and it should be acknowledged that this was an issue she raised, although I didn't know until later, but she deserves acknowledgement for raising this matter as well as the -- when she was a Member. I appreciate Mr. McNeely being the co-sponsor of the bill that, with his help, and working together has made a difference.
Mr. Chairman, just to wrap up but to grab it in a broader form, this definitely was a grassroots issue. I want to point out that a constituent of mine owes -- is owed the lion share of the credit which is James Thomas. He brought his family and himself, in particular brought this issue to me and saying that this would make a difference to students wanting to pursue further education. And, of course, it's hard to say no to education. And, you know, it's through his efforts and certainly passion that this was important. It certainly was on top of mind of his family that this would have a true and genuine impact on students, again pursuing further education, and this -- to put it in context, those who are pursuing things like Masters and PhDs, I mean, those are the people we want to come back and bring those specialized skills. It's hard to get them. So if we can train our own and bring them back, I mean that's -- we consider a success.
I last area I want to point out, Mr. Chairman, on this particular opportunity is 11 young people wrote in, and that's extraordinary. Even in my previous three terms, I've not seen that type of passion and interest in writing in. And you know, it's just a reminder that as I sidestep from your second and point out when the elections officer talks about wanting to change the age of elections to get young people interested in elections, you know, sure statistically that may be theoretically true, but the fact is that young people will engage with the fullness of robust interest and enthusiasm when the matter -- the issue matters to them. So the lesson being taken by that point is is this matter -- this issue really mattered to 11 people and, as a matter of fact, it's really hard to get any feedback or consultation on any bill most of the time but to get 11 people, who are younger, is extraordinary, and that milestone shouldn't go underlooked or over -- passed over or ignored. It was extraordinary. I had nothing to do with that. As a matter of fact, the only thing I had to do with it was saying that now's your chance when I spoke to Mr. Thomas, tell your friends. And they wrote in all on their own.
Mr. Chairman, again, I just want to thank the committee for its work. The recommendations provided by the committee, I do support as well, and I did vote in favour of each of them because they are important and I do believe that education is certainly the incredible gateway to opportunity, and it will help -- help in its own way raise people's standings and ensure that over the longer haul we have healthy stronger people. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
