Jane Weyallon Armstrong

The other -- the $90,000 you're talking about but that's not available for the Indigenous students? That's for -- that's a remissible. Because we do have SFA already. So do we qualify for that loan as well? Thank you.

Thank you. I know it -- you know, I understand about the level of education but at that time, there was a lot of the mental health workers that were in the school. A lot of young people identify with them, or both, vice versa. So it worked at that time. And I just wanted to ask the Minister, since that time is there any improvements? Thank you.

Okay. Well, the funding for the SFA is not enough, you know, like, for single students where many of our young people they leave. From my communities or from my regions, they're young, single, no dependent, and they're living on $850 a month. I just want to ask the Minister if -- is there a plan in place where they're going to improve or increase the student financial assistance program for students that are -- you know, for the independent -- single students, I mean, $850 to increase that. Even for the family as well because family that goes -- that leave the community to go to school, it's a...

Okay. Yes, thank you. Yesterday Minister said mental health workers are all in school, so I just wanted to ask the Minister. They make -- who -- is this funded by ECE only and/or through health and social services? Thank you.

Well, they are the bridging program so why not just offer or extend it for the students who wants to go south? Why just only limited to take to attend Aurora College in the Northwest Territories. You know, there are some families that are not like -- where they can send their kids south to go to school or live with families or live down south because, you know, their kids can take hockey or attend or play hockey. We don't have that luxury. So that's -- the bridging program is the only options. I don't have families that are in my ridings that will fund or send their kids to Edmonton so that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, well, I just wanted to tell the Minister that, you know, I think they need to start focusing on decentralization, give us more jobs. Mr. Speaker, what concrete transition supports such as retraining programs, apprenticeship opportunities, or partnerships with Indigenous governments, are being planned to help Tlicho workers who may lose their jobs in the coming years?

Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do support -- you know, I mean, right now with the mine closures so we don't really know -- like, many of the -- the agreement that's in place with -- from the -- between the Indigenous and the mining companies, the impact benefits agreement, many of the small communities or Indigenous government did benefitted from that agreement in place because SFA does not fund the bridging program. And just like my colleague said -- and I really do appreciate him talking on that -- the bridging program, due to the -- you know, due to the education outcome, many of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today there is growing urgency in the Tlicho region felt in Behchoko, Gameti, Wekweeti, and Whati where many families depend on the diamond mines for stable, well-paying work. For decades, the diamond industry has been a cornerstone of opportunity for Tlicho citizens, providing hundreds of jobs and strengthening our local economies. But that foundation is now at risk. The looming closures of Ekati and Gahcho Kue are immediate and serious threat to Tlicho workers. Gahcho Kue paused expansion and financial pressures driven by falling diamond prices and global...

Well, I am kind of worried because, you know, JP program, a lot of small communities -- even in Yellowknife school, they really benefited from the program, you know, working with our Indigenous students. And it's a good program so I just wanted to know -- and my colleagues have always said it that education is our treaty rights and why we -- you know, like JP program, if it's gonna -- you know, whether it happens or not to -- for many of the school. I just wanted to know why we did not put the same effort that we did in 2025-2026 revised estimate in the upcoming fiscal year. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Thank you for the information. The JK to grade 12 student services, I think my colleagues, they probably talked about this already, and then there's -- is that related to the JP program?