MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I stand today to present a petition on behalf of students at the university who are enrolled in the clinical psychology program.

Mr. Speaker, these students are extremely, extremely disappointed and concerned that there has not been any continued commitment to funding for this program and they have been making an appeal to the university and also to the Minister of Education. In fact, Mr. Speaker, they did send a letter to him just recently outlining a number of concerns that they had, and I guess two in particular. One was with regard to the number of students who currently come out of the undergrad program and want to go in to pursue their graduate studies in clinical psychology at Memorial University being one of the only English Canadian universities in the country to be offering this particular program. Mr. Speaker, they are concerned that there is not a commitment beyond those who will graduate this year. Secondly, Mr. Speaker, they have also expressed concern that if the program does not continue, that it may not receive the accreditation that it needs from the Canadian Psychological Association. If that does not happen, if the accreditation does not happen, then obviously there are some concerns about how long it will take them to have their credentials reviewed under the regulatory body process, and therefore become licensed.

So, Mr. Speaker, these are very legitimate concerns, and these are concerns by people who are currently in the program. They are awaiting a response from the minister on those particular issues, which they have not received to date. However, Mr. Speaker, there is drastic concern by the entire university and the undergrad program in psychology that this program may not continue. Now, today in the House of Assembly I did have the opportunity to question the minister on what their commitment would be to the long-term funding of this program. Unfortunately, he has not given an answer or a commitment. That is unfortunate, because the registration for the program is on February 1, 2010, which is in advance of the Budget coming down from government. So, Mr. Speaker, these individuals and people in the Province who seek higher education in this field of study are looking for a commitment that the program would continue.

Mr. Speaker, the minister has also said that it is the prerogative of the university. While we certainly understand that, that it is the university and their board that decide what programs and fields of study that are implemented in every calendar year and carried forward in the university, we also realize that they can only add when they have the financial resources to do so. In the absence of the government committing to extra money to the university to be able to do this, they would have to find that money within their existing budget. In order to find it within their existing budget, it means that they would have to have savings in one area or another. Those savings, whether they come in the form of cutting a program or cutting a service, in most cases, Mr. Speaker, it would come from a cut of one form or another. Mr. Speaker, I -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I remind the hon. member that her time for speaking has expired.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Just a minute to clue up?

MR. SPEAKER: Does the hon. member have leave?

AN HON. MEMBER: By leave.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. member, by leave.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would certainly make an appeal to the minister on behalf of these individuals and on behalf of our university that is carrying forward a program which is not offered anywhere else in the country and has certainly become renowned for this kind of program delivery, that he would consider making the commitment prior to the Budget, to allow this program to continue as part of the regular curriculum of our university.