Jackson Lafferty

The recommendation did come from the general public, the students, the parents. It is public information as well. Once I get the overall review, then we can potentially table the document so that it can be opened to the general public.

In my language will be [English translation not provided], meaning that we have to take certain steps towards this. It is in the works with the Early Childhood Development Framework. That is the start for us. We’re thinking long-term universal, and that could be the end goal, but we have to take baby steps, as well, towards this framework that’s before us. We need to finalize that with the input across the Northwest Territories. We’re going to be consulting with stakeholders and we will be listening to those experts on how we can start implementing this framework. We are working towards that...

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, the capital infrastructure comes on an annual basis. We can definitely discuss it. This is an area that we will continue to push forward in a small community. Depending on the size, again, it is a standard and criteria that is before us based on 61 percent capacity. I will be visiting the community of Trout Lake and see for myself, as well and other small communities, what could be done to expedite the process. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, there are various subsidy programs for early childhood development programming, whether it be an early childhood program for start-up and operation contribution funding through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, which also offsets the cost of operations and contributions towards items such as groceries, equipment, and material purchases. Also, in 2007, we established a rent and mortgage subsidy program that would offset the cost of basic rent and mortgage expenses. Those are just some of the subsidies that are being offered to the communities throughout the Northwest...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Since the report came out, the recommendations, my department committed to follow through with each and every one of them, and one of the areas that we did highlight through our discussion within the department is implementing the early childhood development instrument where we need to identify the early years of those students, the child, the learning, the first year that data has been collected using the EDI tool, and that tool will definitely guide us in decision-making for better healthy childhood development throughout the communities of the Northwest Territories.

Also...

When it comes to early childhood development, the program and community initiatives, there are all kinds of different initiatives and attached to that would be subsidies. I can provide the Members with the subsidies available to whether it be the young families or larger families, that they can access the various subsidy programs through our Department of Education, Culture and Employment and also with Health and Social Services. We can provide that detailed information on the actual subsidy program that may be available.

Mahsi. I definitely will provide detailed information of the childhood inspection licensing action plan and also the schedule. We do have a schedule in place as of this month, October, until early next year, spring. We want to follow through with each and every recommendation that was brought forward according to the Auditor General’s report. It is a very serious issue, especially dealing with early childhood. So I will be providing that detailed information to the Members. Mahsi.

The simplest answer would be yes. If they haven’t done so, as of today they need to start working with my department, with BDAC, and also with the committee that’s been established. Not only the Beaufort-Delta but other regions as well. We need to support those individual committees on a volunteer basis doing what they can. They are committed so we need to support them. I’m a firm believer in that.

I’m also meeting with the board chairs in December. I will raise that issue, as well, that we need to start implementing. It’s a shared responsibility. We need to move forward and make it a...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. First, I’d like to commend the committee of Inuvik working on this ASA, one of the priorities of this government, my department.

The funding that we do provide through ASA, Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, is approximately $1.8 million for ASA initiatives to fund a number of activities such as literacy coaches, the libraries, the cultural orientation for all teachers, an ASA coordinator and also an Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative public awareness campaign. This also deals with those communities that are initiating their own committee to work with the...

Mr. Speaker, I have to provide the detailed information to the Members, but there is a threshold income and also the type of fuel and by zoning. I will provide all of that information to the Members so they are aware of what is within a subsidy area. I will provide the actual budget for the detailed information. Mahsi.