Post-secondary funding program to be reviewed

Gilbert Whiteduck agrees with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) that the post-secondary student support program that gives grants to First Nations and Inuit students needs to be reviewed.
But the Kitigan Zibi First Nation chief doesn't hold out much hope that the direction he would like to see the program move is more grant money available to students is the direction INAC will take it.
"My experience over the years is that a review means that the government will be reducing (the dollars in the program) or offloading it to the provinces in one way or another," said Whiteduck.
Review of the post-secondary student support program was announced in the 2008 budget, but what that review will look like and who will be involved in it is yet undetermined.
"We're still in the preliminary stages. It's too early in the process to determine when it will be done," said Patricia Valladao, INAC spokesperson.
Whiteduck notes that he was a First Nations representative taking part in a similar review the government undertook two or three years ago. Although he thought the review committee was making valuable progress, INAC pulled the plug without warning and without recommendations being made.
"If we had been allowed to continue, I think we would have had an acceptable resolution for both sides and for the next decade or so we would have had a much stronger program," he said.
At this point, Whiteduck insists, the present review does not include First Nations representatives.
Rodney McLeod, president of the Aboriginal Student Council at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, is concerned that the program may be converted from grants to loans.
"If I have to pay back the money, it wouldn't necessarily influence me to go to school," admits McLeod, a member of Frog Lake First Nation in Alberta. "Instead I would get a high paying job out of high school instead of getting a low paying job and having to pay back a loan."
McLeod is in his fourth year at the U of A in the Faculty of Native Studies. There are approximately 1,000 students at the Edmonton university who identify themselves as First Nations.
Valladao confirms that the review will look at the "better co-ordination" of the post-secondary student support program with other federal programs, such as the Canada Student Loan (CSL) program and the new Canada Student Grant program. A range of options will be considered, she said.
Whiteduck is concerned that if the post-secondary student support program becomes part of CSL, not only will fewer grant dollars be made available, but fewer First Nations students will apply because they will be unfamiliar with the process.
"A number of families in the community don't have the means of (getting a Canada Student Loan) because they don't have money saved," said Whiteduck.
Whiteduck wants to ensure that First Nations members have a say, before the government makes a decision.
Working with the Quebec-based First Nations Education Council (FNEC), Whiteduck was instrumental in getting Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine to sign a petition launched by FNEC, which, in part, urges the government of Canada to not only make the post-secondary student support program permanent, but to "fully shoulder its responsibility in adequately funding the right to post-secondary education for First Nations.
The petition, both available in hard copy and online, has garnered more than 20,000 signatures. Whiteduck hopes to have the opposition parties present the petition in Parliament this month.
"We need a strong stand to make it a permanent program, to assure funding every year," said Whiteduck.
In 2008-2009, INAC has committed $336 million in funding through the program. Of that, $314 million is going directly to an estimated 23,000 students. Funding from the program is also used to support Aboriginal post-secondary institutions and programs.
The program has come under review for a number of reasons, said Valladao. Available data indicates that fewer First Nations and Inuit students are using the program; there's no assurance that students who need the support are receiving the funding; and because there is an overall lack of information regarding this funding program and other dollars available to all post-secondary students.
Funding for the post-secondary student support program goes directly to First Nations bands to distribute. However, the funding is not locked into supporting students, and Whiteduck notes that some First Nations may choose to use the money to cover emergencies.
But this has never been the case for Kitigan Zibi First Nation, located one and a half hours north of Ottawa, in Quebec, said Whiteduck. The band is in its second five-year agreement for post-secondary student support program funding, distributing just over $2 million annually to approximately 175 students.
Whiteduck believes that the post-secondary student support program is "one of the better programs to come out of INAC to support First Nations and Inuit students."
McLeod agrees.
"It's very important to the survival of our students. It's important that we receive an adequate education. I can't say that enough."
McLeod and Whiteduck both contend that post-secondary education is a treaty right.
But the government of Canada says differently.
"The government feels post-secondary education is an important part of Canadian society and economic policy. Although post-secondary education is not a treaty right, it's key to Canada's future. We know the importance of it," said Valladao.