McKnight announces new budget: $93.7 million given for education

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Ottawa (May 14, 1987)

The Honourable Bill McKnight, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, has announced a $93.7 million budget for Indian and Inuit post-secondary education in the 1987-88 fiscal year. This budget has grown from $8 million a decade ago.

Additional funding will be available to assist students registered under Bill C-31.

"Education and training are important tools in today's technological society. They are even more important for Indian people in the process of developing self-government and economic self-reliance," McKnight pointed out.

There has been growing participation by Indians in post-secondary education over the same time period ? from roughly 3,500 full-time equivalent students ten years ago to approximately 12,000 in the 1986-87 academic year.

"We're taking interim measures to ensure the fairest and most effective possible use of this year's budget for Indian post-secondary education," McKnight said. "However, more fundamental modifications to the program guidelines are needed to make the most of available resources in the future."

In a letter sent to all chiefs and councils, the minister introduced these interim changes to his department's Indian post-secondary assistance program. He invited Indian leaders to discuss these changes and other substantial improvements to the management of the program through the coming year.

Specific proposals on such issues as student month entitlements, a grant structure and inclusion of the department's Occupational Skills Training program will be circulated to affected groups for discussion. The goal will be to develop a better managed program of student grants in time for implementation in the 1988-89 academic year.