Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Finding and paying for quality childcare is a significant problem for many families in the NWT. Childcare is available to only 39 per cent of children ages zero to for in the NWT, and 12 communities don't have licensed childcare centres now, including centres with substantial populations, such as Fort Liard, Lutselk'e, Norman Wells, and Tsiigehtchic. As a reference point, one in four NWT families has a child under five. There is no question that need outstrips availability. This information comes from a feasibility study completed by academics on universal childcare...

I'd like to thank the Minister for making that commitment. I ask only when he thinks he will be able to deliver this information to us.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's 2016. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for that answer. However, the provision of childcare is a key component of the education of young people prior to them going into junior kindergarten or kindergarten. The people who work in this sector are generally quite low paid and daycares struggle with keeping qualified staff. I'm wondering if the Minister can make a commitment to looking at providing the wage subsidy directly to the employers rather than to the individuals.

I look forward to your support. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in September last year, Commissioner George Tuccaro inducted the first members of the Order of the Northwest Territories in a ceremony in this Chamber. Ruth Spence of Yellowknife was among the first five inductees. Since then, no recognition of this tremendous distinction has been given before this Assembly, so I rise here today to correct that omission.

Ruth Spence has been a community activist and organizer in the North since her arrival here, almost 50 years ago. In 1966, the YWCA opened at 12-bed facility in a house on Matonabee Street, specifically for...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 33 by deleting the words “We will support a communications campaign to promote women in politics” and inserting the words “We will support a communications campaign to increase the participation of women in politics.” Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have nothing further to add. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, be amended on page 25 by inserting the following words under the “Fostering Healthy Family” section “We will reduce poverty in the NWT by implementing the GNWT commitments in the Territorial Anti-Poverty Action Plan, continuing to work with our partners to advance the plan and supporting communities' priorities for wellness.”

And further, that the proposed mandate be amended on page 26 by deleting the words “Supporting community wellness priorities that address the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Daycare affordability is a major issue for working families in the Northwest Territories, as I just said. It's usually the largest expense after accommodation. Funding for childcare comes primarily from the fees that parents pay. Just 20 per cent of childcare costs come from public funding in the NWT, one of the lowest levels in the developed world and less than one per cent of our budget. In the academic study of the feasibility of providing universal daycare in the NWT, the authors make the following recommendations about grants to daycare operators. I'm going to quote...