In a rare case, an NWT private member’s bill makes change

The recently announced increase to the NWT’s student loan limit came from an unusual source: a bill from a regular MLA that became law.

Last month, the Legislative Assembly passed a bill sponsored by Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins to amend the Student Financial Assistance Act.

As a result, the NWT government announced on Monday it had increased the student loan limit from $60,000 to $90,000.

Almost invariably, changes to legislation are driven by the territorial government through bills introduced by members of cabinet.

This bill was different. As a private member’s bill, it featured a regular MLA proposing the legislation instead.

Only a few such bills have been successful in recent NWT legislative history, and Hawkins told Cabin Radio private member’s bills passing with support from cabinet is “as common as hen’s teeth,” an expression meaning something is exceptionally rare.

“Politically, they don’t like members telling them what to do,” he said.

“Structurally, the government has a way of doing business. It’s a very conservative government in the sense of it doesn’t like changes very much. It proposes changes that they’ve made over years and hence it leads by being a leader.”

Hawkins said generally, ministers will only support private member’s bills that have a very low impact or propose change that doesn’t cost the government money. This case was unusual, he said, as the bill did increase the amount of money students could borrow from a revolving fund.

“It’s not as if it’s committing the government to new money or long-term spending,” he said. “So in that sense, I was able … to have this go through.”

He noted that students will still be required to repay loans. The NWT government has said the repayment schedule remains unchanged.

A hallmark of consensus government

Hawkins said given the consensus style of government in the NWT, he believes it should be more common for private member’s bills to succeed.

“To me, that would be a hallmark of consensus government or the values of what it’s supposed to represent,” he said.

Just two of roughly 95 bills that became law in the previous Legislative Assembly were private member’s bills. One amended the Ombud Act while the other amended the dental hygienists’ profession statutes. Five other private member’s bills failed to pass.

Two private member’s bills became law in the 18th Legislative Assembly. Five received assent in the 17th Assembly.

Hawkins said his bill started as a grassroots initiative from a constituent he spoke with on the campaign trail. He said the person had run out of loan funding in their final year of law school.

That’s an issue that affects roughly 20 students, Hawkins said, largely those who are pursuing higher post-secondary education such as a master’s degree or PhD.

“We’re encouraging young people to always pursue further education and bring it back here,” he said.

“When they move to the graduate study [level], they just need that extra support.”

Education minister Caitlin Cleveland told the legislature a government analysis had found students with more than two dependents needed a higher loan limit to complete a four-year program.

She said the average student with up to five dependents, for example, would need a limit of almost $90,000 to do so.

“This change will empower more students, especially those with dependents or those pursuing longer more specialized degrees, to complete their studies and return to the North where they can contribute to our workforce and our communities,” she said in supporting Hawkins’ bill.

Hawkins said the NWT’s student loan limit was previously increased in 2007. Since then, he said, education costs have gone up while the buying power of the dollar has dropped.

“This is an exciting opportunity,” he said. “We need all of the skills we can bring back to help further opportunities for everyone here.”