November 2, 2016

I was happy to answer questions regarding the government of Canada’s support for Indigenous students and the value of learning success to improve successful outcomes in life. Our government has invested in the budget and budget update to continue to improve the lives of Indigenous people in Canada.

text below:

    Ms. Yvonne Jones (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the question that has been posed by my colleague this evening, and I recognize that we are on traditional Algonquin territory.

    The government believes in investing to improve indigenous students’ access to more and better educational opportunities at every level. This is fundamental to opening the door to a brighter future for first nation, Inuit, and Métis students, and the communities in which they live.

    I am quite sure I do not need to explain how greater educational opportunities lead to greater life opportunities. This is why I want to refer the hon. member to examples such as historic investments in elementary and secondary education on reserve that was found in budget 2016: $2.6 billion over five years will help a new generation of first nation students prepare to secure post-secondary dreams. That includes all first nation indigenous students across Canada, including those in Saskatchewan.

    In addition to this new budget funding, investments are being made each year through the post-secondary partnership program, which is the administered by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. This program provides funding to post-secondary institutions to design and deliver programs that are tailored for first nation and Inuit students. It will deliver some $18.5 million in support to nearly 100 post-secondary courses and programs in all parts of Canada this fiscal year alone, including the province of Saskatchewan.

    We are also committed to working with indigenous students, communities, and leaders, as well as indigenous education institutions and personnel, to ensure that post-secondary students’ support programs properly support first nation students pursuing post-secondary education by providing them with financial assistance.

    We have a lot of students who are taking advantage of this particular program. The government currently invests over $310 million a year in this program and it comprises part of the $340 million that we had provided for support for indigenous post-secondary students last year, as well.

    Further, we have adopted a whole-of-government approach to improving access to these and other post-secondary programs for indigenous students. That includes financial support. For instance, we have increased the Canada student grant for full-time students from low- and middle-income families, as well as the Canada student grant for part-time students, by 50%.

    We are working with students, with parents, with educators, and with indigenous groups to ensure that eligible first nation students are aware of these funds and are fully able to avail themselves of them.

    I would like to assure the House, and the hon. member, that we are going to continue to work with indigenous groups to ensure that indigenous students have the resources and the supports they need to pursue and achieve their post-secondary goals. That is what we aim to do, that is what we are investing to, and that includes all first nation students across Canada.

And part two:

    Ms. Yvonne Jones: Mr. Speaker, I certainly understand the concerns that the member opposite expresses on behalf of her constituents and her riding.

    The Government of Canada is fully supportive of indigenous students in post-secondary education. We are making historic investments to ensure that indigenous students right across Canada have the ability to access and afford post-secondary education.

    We have some 23,000 indigenous students that are already benefiting from investments such as post-secondary student support programs and we will continue to work with indigenous communities, with indigenous groups, and with first nations and Inuit students in reaching their post-secondary and educational goals.

    This is why this year the Government of Canada has again made record investments to ensure that indigenous students have access to a great education and an affordable one in Canada.