Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have such a diversity of communities and such a diversity of needs in the Northwest Territories. I just think that something that was not across the board and more responsive to each community in terms of what was already there and what was needed would have been a better approach. Would the Minister agree? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Lafferty.

Did the department consider that rolling out Junior Kindergarten in all communities without any consideration for what was already there in the area of early childhood development, did the department consider how that was going to affect those existing programs that had been on the ground for a very long time? When you take all of the four-year-olds out of all the ones I just named, what is the result for those and the daycares? Are we basically gutting all that stuff that we’ve already established in favour of Junior Kindergarten? Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Mr. Dolynny.

So, Health and Social Services has not been involved from the outset. I am a grandmother. I’m looking after my grandchildren. Can I go to social services and explain the situation to them and work collaboratively with them to ensure that I can afford to financially care for my grandchildren? Thank you.

I’m sorry. Ms. Saturnino.

Thank you, Ms. Saturnino. Mr. Dolynny.

My experience has been that sometimes when family members step in, there is a sense in the department or with the child welfare worker that the problem has now been alleviated, it has been solved and the inclination is to step away from the situation and say, okay, the children are no longer at risk and therefore they are safe.

I would like to know if there is a process that allows family to be involved in that transition for those children. Quite often, child protection workers are seen as the enemy coming in to apprehend children and take them out of their home. I know there are very many...

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Lafferty.