Thank you.
I want to thank you all for coming here today.
I also think it's important that you've acknowledged that there have been challenges with the university in the past. We all know that. I also think it's important to acknowledge the fact that we have a diverse group working together to find solutions for the institution and the students. I think it's always important to keep in mind that what we're talking about here is the health and well-being of the institution and the students.
A number of you have outlined the benefits of the institution. I just want to touch on a couple of things. One is that we've had numerous letters. I know that people are listening, and I want to thank people for writing in and talking about their personal experiences at the institution. We certainly had one here that outlined in detail the benefits of the language aspect of the university, which is simply not available anywhere else in Canada.
In the 2005 report, as well--and some of this has been covered--it says that at that time, it had one of only four environmental health sciences programs in North America. It had the only dental therapy program, which I think you touched on. The nursing program at the Prince Albert campus is the largest indigenous professional program in the world. In terms of celebrating the successes of the university, I think that gets left out of this conversation on a regular basis.
I have two questions for you. First, in the minister's appearance before the committee last week, he indicated that he's been through this so many times that he asked them, “What's the proposal?” The minister a week ago was indicating that he had no knowledge of the proposal being put forward to rescue First Nations University. He also indicated, in response to a question about the model changing, that it's still not there. This was a week ago. He indicated that he didn't know about a plan and that the model's not there. That's one question.
Second, the minister has consistently stated that the money could still be there, the $7.2 million. But it will follow students individually or will be available through proposal applications through ISSP, and, I would presume, outside of First Nations University.
I'd like you to tell me why those proposals will not work. You've addressed it briefly, but I'd like you to elaborate.
So I have two questions: how can the minister say that there was no plan or proposal, given what we've heard today, and why will the proposals the minister put forward not work?