Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the closure of the Aurora College 19 community learning centres, students who live outside of Yellowknife, Fort Smith, and Inuvik, face even greater challenges in accessing programs or transitional -- or transitioning successfully into university level studies. These students are left with few options to upgrade their skills or complete prerequisite courses and, as a result, face barriers to obtaining funding under the student financial assistance program.
Take, for example, a 19-year-old Tlicho citizen from Behchoko who was denied financial support from student financial assistance for enrolment in an emergency medical responder program at NAIT. This program is a critical first step towards becoming a paramedic, yet it is not recognized as post-secondary program under current funding policies. This student is passionate about serving her community, and yet she is being told her education does not qualify.
Mr. Speaker, living in small communities with poor education outcome, many of our youth rely on this kind of program to move forward. If we fail to support our youth in obtaining positive education outcomes now, we are setting them up for failure in a future where they will most certainly end up relying on income support. In a territory where we urgently need Indigenous healthcare workers, we must do better. We must ensure our funding systems reflect the realities of modern training pathways and support those who choose to serve.
Mr. Speaker, the SFA framework as it currently exists does not support university bridging programs, which are essentials for students who do not meet direct requirements for university. These programs offer academic upgrading, skill development, and transitioning support that can make the difference between access and exclusion. Now is the time to look at amending the Student Finance Assistance Act and regulation to explicitly include university bridging programming as eligible for financial support. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, doing so would align with the Act's intent and ensure that students are not penalized for systemic gaps in educational access. Education is a right, not a privilege, which we have said quite a few times. We need to ensure that every student in the Northwest Territories has a fair chance to succeed regardless of where they live or the path they must take to realize their dreams. Masi.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from the Mackenzie Delta.
