Finance committee  The loan program is there. If you are going to look at the loan program, I think the expansion should be in the amounts that are given. It is my belief that at this point the federal government has not increased that for a number of years, and all the costs are rising. Everywhere throughout this country, tuition costs are rising and students are finding themselves in a difficult place.

Finance committee  Yes, absolutely. In fact, there are people looking for work who want to improve their skills, and there are employers who are desperately looking for employees. There is also a certain amount of snobbery where we must only support certain programs offered by a given university for a certain number of weeks, and so on.

Finance committee  I will need just a few seconds. I think you raise an interesting question. The problem we have I think is that with education having many players, including the provincial government, it's going to be really hard to change everything. However, the government has the ability and the capacity to direct funding where education is needed and workers cannot be found for jobs that exist.

Finance committee  Absolutely. Making changes to the Canada scholarships program is a very easy and very simple solution. It would cost nothing and would allow people to become more productive more quickly.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  The regulations are immense, Mr. Brison. They include having your programs registered and reviewed by the provincial government. The instructor has to have been approved by the provincial government. Every career college has to put in funds, on the side, by the provincial government, etc.

Finance committee  They're fairly similar, but as an example, the programs have to be approved by the provincial governments, and there's a number of standards.

Finance committee  It varies immensely, depending on the trade or the sector. You're looking at the Canada student loans program right now, which funds programs that start at four weeks. What we're saying is that on one side the federal government recognizes programs that can be very short, and on another side, with the grants, it does not recognize those programs.

Finance committee  They're regulated by provincial governments, yes.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to thank you for allowing the National Association of Career Colleges to make this presentation on such an important issue, the 2013 budget and how it can help our country move forward. Let me first thank this committee and this government for the work done in previous budgets, especially the measure that in 2011 enhanced and extended the eligibility for the Canada student loans and grants programs for part-time and full-time students.