ABORIGINAL POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

Treaty rights enshrined in the Canadian Constitution outline the federal government's fiscal responsibility to provide post-secondary education for Aboriginal peoples.

The Post-Secondary Student Support Program

Funding for status First Nations and Inuit students is provided through Indian and Northern Affairs Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP).

The PSSSP is meant to encourage access to post-secondary education and alleviate the financial barriers faced by Aboriginal students by covering the costs of tuition fees, books, supplies, travel, and living expenses. Between 1992 and 1997, the model shifted from per-student to block funding. In 1997, increases in funding were capped at 2 per cent annually. Prior to the implementation of the funding cap in 1999, approximately 27,000 Aboriginal students received financial assistance. In 2006, the number fell to just over 22,000.

The lack of funding has forced communities administering the funds to make difficult decisions about who receives funding each year. It is estimated that between 2001 and 2006, over 10,500 students were denied funding, with an additional 2,588 denied in 2007-08 alone. In addition, due to the shortfall in funding, priority is often given to short college programs at the detriment of more expensive professional or post-graduate programs of study.

According to the Assembly of First Nations, a total of $516 million is required to ensure that no Aboriginal student is denied access to postsecondary education due to financial barriers. As INAC currently provides $300 million an additional $216 million would be required. An additional $208 million is needed to address the 13,000 students that were previously denied funding. In Québec, an additional $24 million (in addition to $23 million to address the backlog) would be required to meet the needs of Aboriginal students. This funding would support a total of 36,382 students across Canada and 4,000 in Québec.

Although Non-Status First Nations and Métis face similar socio-economic conditions and face the same challenges in accessing post-secondary education as status First Nations and Inuit peoples, they are not eligible to apply for the PSSSP, leaving many without the financial resources necessary to pursue post-secondary education.

In November 2005, Paul Martin's government agreed to $5-billion plan over ten years (the "Kelowna Accord") to improve the lives of Aboriginal peoples. The Kelowna Accord committed to spending $1.8 billion for education, which included funding for post-secondary education. In the 2006 budget, the Conservative government cancelled the Kelowna Accord, instead allocating just $150 million to improve health, education, and housing standards.