Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to comments made last May by the member opposite on the millennium scholarships.
My colleague raised comments made at the time by the three largest employer organizations in Quebec on the scholarships and on the constitutional jurisdiction of Quebec.
The Government of Canada recognizes that education is a matter of provincial jurisdiction. We are not interested in stepping into provincial jurisdiction in terms of education. What we believe strongly about is helping Canadians have proper access to the good education and the knowledge provided by the provinces. That is why we introduced the millennium scholarships. We have always stated that the enabling legislation offers all the flexibility needed to meet much of what Quebec wants.
The millennium scholarships will be managed and delivered by an independent foundation that will work closely with the provinces to establish criteria and to avoid duplication with what the provinces are already delivering.
The foundation will be undertaking consultations over the next few months with the provinces and the educational community to increase access to post-secondary education everywhere in Canada for low and middle income Canadians in a manner that avoids duplication and builds on existing provincial programs and processes. This makes good sense for students, for the provinces and for Canada.
Quebeckers should feel confident that the millennium scholarship foundation will act responsibly and will work with all the provinces in a way that will avoid duplication with provincial systems. Jean Monty, the president of the foundation, is a well respected and responsible individual. We are confident he will work well with all provincial governments, including the Government of Quebec, to ensure students have better access to education provided by the provinces.
The foundation will make every effort to establish the millennium scholarships in a manner that respects the needs of each province, including Quebec.
I urge the hon. member to recognize that both orders of governments have a role to play to increase the equality of opportuntiy for Canada's young people. Through partnerships we can achieve results which are beneficial to all Canadians, each and every one of us.
The millennium scholarships are not about jurisdiction. Rather, they represent Canada's unique way of celebrating a new millennium by investing in all Canadians and their future.