Bob Bromley

This is a complete injustice. Putting logos, companies like this, looking for partners like this to put into the homes, at the dinner table, logos, at an impressionable age aimed at children in their early years when they are most impressionable, a fossil fuel company, the basis of the greatest threat to our civilization, when in fact we are a public government responsible for providing education through our tax revenues. If Chevron is to contribute, if any company is to contribute to the basic fundamental provision of required services like education and health, et cetera, in Canada, they...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I see that Right from the Start for our early childhood development programs, funding is being provided by Chevron – Chevron – to purchase the materials required to fulfil the commitments the department has in early childhood education. I would like to ask, why is the department going to a multi-national fossil fuel company, an industry that is at the greatest foundation threat to civilization ever, for money?

That’s all I had on this page. I appreciate that response. I guess the lead on this is transferring to this Minister next April 1st, as I understand it, but I will look forward to that and moving forward with whatever our priority recommendations are.

Thank you. That explains it right there. I appreciate that. I support both of those initiatives. Updating our food basket, I know the Minister is aware of my support for that and also this transfer to the Housing Corporation. I understand that the food basket and so on is part of an increase over four years, $6.6 million planned increase, so I appreciate that very much.

Just on the income assistance housing clients being transferred to Housing, this hardly touches the need as far as I can detect from my constituents. Is this sort of a test case and is the department contemplating expanding this...

Of course, that report is due any day. It’s a bit of a chicken and egg thing here. I think we’re talking about cost of living and so on for our people. Is there the flexibility, should the report confirm what we have hired experts to tell us, and I assume it would, that we would have the capacity to get going on that legislation pronto?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that and I will look forward to what comes out of that.

My last note is I see we are not really making much adjustment to the arts investment in the grants and contributions. That is just something I really support. I think we have gradually done a better job since the early days of the 16th Assembly, but I think there is more room for achievement here and investment. It has a very well-demonstrated impact on local economies and helping people realize their full potential, obviously, their personal and community identities and cultural aspects. I just raise...

I don’t see it here but I believe this division would deal with legislation. Am I correct in that assumption?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister for that information. I’m glad to see an expansion of that. It seems like there’s an obvious need for it and I appreciate that. On the other hand, I see a reduction in the grants to early childhood programs of almost $800,000 and I’m wondering why the drop there. I know the Minister is aware that Members put this as a very, very high priority, this area for investment, and yet we seem to be going the opposite direction in terms of our net investments in early childhood.

Thank you. I get the sense that there are still lots of areas for investments and pretty positive payback periods and returns. On the utilities side, I’m just a little bit surprised at the increase of $2.5 million given our focus on this, especially when our fuel costs are down. The deputy minister has mentioned LED lighting and so on, and I have to say I’ve just put that into my kitchen and I’m pretty amazed with some efficiencies and still some very good lighting.

Is this simply new assets that are being brought on stream and if I can get an update on that? Like I say, $2.5 million given...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s comments on the interdepartmental confusion which clearly is a barrier to grandparents accessing the support they need. Currently, ECE is the route for grandparents who are informally fostering grandchildren to receive financial support through income assistance while apprehended children are the responsibility of Health and Social Services. I appreciate the Minister’s look here, but I ask the Minister to hark back to when he was part of a group of MLAs that revised child and family services and highlighted the needs to support grandparents...