Released on May 7, 1999
Starting in January 2000 and for the next ten years, approximately32,000 Canada Millennium scholarships will be distributed to full-time
post-secondary students in Saskatchewan, representing some $97 million
in additional funds for student financial assistance. The Agreement
was signed today in Saskatoon by Premier Roy Romanow, Post-Secondary
Education and Skills Training Minister Maynard Sonntag and Norman
Riddell, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada
Millennium Scholarship Foundation.
"I am delighted that we have been able to reach this Agreement with
the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation. A good education is the
best possible gift we can give to our children. These funds will make
post-secondary education more affordable for Saskatchewan students and
their families," Premier Romanow said.
The Agreement between the Government of Saskatchewan and the
Foundation provides for two classes of awards: General Awards and
Exceptional Merit Awards.
Approximately 3200 General Awards will be given to Saskatchewan
residents, at a cost of more than $9.6 million a year. These
awards represent 3.4 per cent of the 95,000 General Awards that
the Foundation expects to issue across Canada. This percentage
corresponds to Saskatchewan's share of the population of Canada.
General awards which will average $3000 will range between $2000
and $4000. Needier students will receive greater awards.
To be eligible for these awards, students must be in need, have
successfully completed 60 per cent of a year of post-secondary
studies, be enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible
post-secondary institution and be in good standing at the time of
the award.
All Saskatchewan students who apply for financial assistance
under the Canada Student Loan Program for the academic year 1999-2000 will automatically be considered for the Foundation's
General Awards. The first General Awards will be paid out early
next year. The Province of Saskatchewan will distribute the
Awards to Saskatchewan students on behalf of the Foundation.
General Awards will displace existing provincial assistance to
students. The Foundation estimates that the amount of provincial
assistance displaced will be in the order of $8.9 million a year.
Premier Romanow will be announcing how the province will be
disbursing the funds.
The Agreement also will provide Saskatchewan students with 119
Exceptional Merit Awards. These awards will vary between $3000
and $9000 and will be available to Saskatchewan students entering
post-secondary education for the first time.
Under the Agreement signed today, the Foundation will develop
criteria for the purpose of these awards and will consult with
the Province in order to find an equitable and efficient method
of identifying recipients. The Foundation expects to deliver its
first Exceptional Merit Awards in the fall of the year 2000.
"While other countries are building monuments or organizing
massive celebrations to mark the beginning of the new millennium,
we can be proud that thanks to the initiative of the Government
of Canada that we are investing in the country's most important
resource, its young people. Education is the very foundation of
Canada's future competitiveness in the global markets. The
Millennium Scholarships will give young Canadians the opportunity
to carve themselves a place in this demanding environment. In
the end, all Canada will benefit."
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For further information, contact:
Brady Salloum
Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-1069
Jean Lapierre (514) 213-2262
Richard Vigneault (514) 497-1385
Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation