Gov't to include First Nations students excluded from Yukon Grant

The Yukon government is making the territory's student financial aid system more fair, according to Doug Graham, the territory's minister of education.

Graham tabled amendments to the Students Financial Assistance Act in the legislature this week.

Some of the changes affect the Yukon Grant, which is available to Yukon students pursuing full-time, post-secondary education.

In the current academic year, it pays $1,870 per semester, or $1,247per quarter, to students. There is also a travel grant of $1,800 for students who are studying outside the territory.

The amendments are intended to ensure otherwise eligible students are not denied the grant over technicalities, said Graham.

Changes to reward students with 'real commitment'

"What we're trying to do is make this funding available to people who have a real commitment to the Yukon," he said.

"So, in other words, if the family is resident in the Yukon, normally resident in the Yukon, pays their taxes here, works herethose are the students that we want to get financial assistance."

A committee that hears appeals over student financial assistance denials will be given more leeway to enforce the intent of the legislation to bring more fairness to the process, Graham said.

All First Nations students will be eligible

One of the amendments ensures all Yukon First Nations students are eligible for the Yukon Grant, the minister said.

Some First Nations students have not been eligible for the grant because they apply directly to the federal government for financial aid, rather than their own First Nation government.

That barrier will be removed for citizens from the five First Nations affected, including the Kluane First Nation.

"Kluane First Nation is pleased to see that our citizens who are furthering their education will now be eligible to receive the Yukon Grant," Kluane First Nation Chief Math'ieya Alatini said in a release issued by the government.

Yukoners who move to the territory as adults are still not eligible for the Yukon Grant, but Graham says they can apply for money to take job training programs at Yukon College.