Evidence of meeting #4 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was students.
A recording is available from Parliament.
7:25 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Okay, so let's say hypothetically the University of Regina applied for an ISSP program that they would use to keep the doors of FNUC open. Would that meet the criteria of the program as it stands now?
7:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Education and Social Development Programs and Partnerships Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
It depends. The ISSP program does not permit the covering of operational costs--
7:25 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
So in other words, FNUC would need to find another source of funds for operational costs, but it could provide for the delivery of programs--for example, language problems--that are currently delivered.
7:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Education and Social Development Programs and Partnerships Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
It's possible--
7:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Education and Social Development Programs and Partnerships Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
--for a program; depending upon the proposal and the analysis, etc., that is possible.
7:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Education and Social Development Programs and Partnerships Sector, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
No.
7:25 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Okay.
Minister Norris, I have a question for you. If, for example, the government does allocate the $7.3 million to the Province of Saskatchewan but without any commitment that it could go to keeping the doors of FNUC open, where does that leave the Province of Saskatchewan? I guess the question is whether, in your view, FNUC will have to close if the federal government does not come to the table.
7:25 p.m.
Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour, Government of Saskatchewan
Thanks very much. I appreciate the question.
For the Province of Saskatchewan, we've said consistently that while there is no renewed funding to First Nations University, this partnership and certainly the agreement today are vitally important. We will invest in that partnership as long as conditions are met. Certainly the financial circumstances within which First Nations University finds itself are going to be taxing. We've said that as long as those conditions are met...and so far we're the only partner at the table that has put real dollars--over $5 million--on the table.
We have some reference points for what other federated colleges are able to operate with regarding their funding. I would reiterate that First Nations University is a federated college at the University of Regina. But at this stage, I want to reiterate that we certainly want the funds to stay in Saskatchewan. We ask respectfully that they stay in Saskatchewan. We think and have confidence that the partnership provides a balance between the accountability piece that has been missing in the past and greater certainty for the students.
As far as federal instruments go that may be considered or utilized for that funding, we want to work as constructively as we can to ensure they suit the partnership and also suit some of the circumstances that Ottawa may have. But the bottom line is that we are going to need federal dollars. That's been on the table right from the start. We certainly don't want to see those dollars no longer flowing to Saskatchewan; we expect that they will.
7:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton
I'm sorry, Madam Crowder.
Mr. Duncan, you have a point of order.
7:30 p.m.
Conservative
John Duncan Conservative Vancouver Island North, BC
Our notes say that we're going to be here until 7:30. It is now 7:30. I move to adjourn this session.
7:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton
Okay.
We have a motion to adjourn the meeting. This is a motion that is not debatable.
All those in favour of adjournment?
(Motion agreed to)
Witnesses, thank you very much.
The meeting is adjourned.