Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister means well, but I’m not sure I agree with his approach and the government’s approach on how they’re going about it in terms of speaking about the GNWT’s position at the national table on childcare or day care or early childhood education or however we want to phrase this. I don’t think it’s the proper thing to just go and say we’ll see what the federal government is asking or we’ll see where we end up. I think we’ll have a better chance of getting it where you want to, if you know where you want to be before you start. So I’d like to know from the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wanted to ask a question to the Minister about the review of the Liquor Act in light of this section here on this budget.

Mr. Menicoche mentioned the example of AADAC in Alberta where not only do they do that, I think that commission is responsible for the roles that our liquor board or Liquor Licensing Board -- I think it is combined -- the work that our liquor board does and the Liquor Commission. Also, AADAC funds money for at least three alcohol and drug treatment programs in Alberta. They fund the Poundmakers in part and they fund the Henwood. They also fund...

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 380-15(3): NWT Child Care Spending

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wasn’t going to comment more, but this issue that Mr. Braden has been discussing has prompted me to say something here so that it’s on record. I was going to wait until the Minister’s work is done in April or May when this initial report on this review comes hopefully to AOC to discuss it, but this is such a huge issue. I know Mr. Braden is very passionate about this issue. I’m not sure if what Mr. Braden is calling for, which I think is necessary, should be placed and that debate should take place by way of this review. I think the way we manage or not manage well...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask some more questions to Mr. Dent about the national childcare debate that’s going on and the meetings that he attended over the weekend. Mr. Speaker, lest there be any opinion out there that we have this huge functioning child day care program in the NWT given the Minister’s answers earlier, I think it should be a very clear understanding that we don’t have that. What we have is a very basic minimum, income tested day care subsidy. I don’t know if anybody has noticed the careful skating around that the Minister did in answering my question...

Thank you, but the questions that have been brought to me have to do with businesses that have been in existence for quite a few years, and that had been submitting taxes and payroll taxes. Now, two or three years later -- in one case, it is still a very rapidly growing business -- they might have been employing 10 people three years ago and are now employing 300 people. They are advertising; they have a strong presence in the city as well as in the surrounding communities. They have been called twice within a span of two months asking if they were going to be remitting taxes. They said, of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to know if the Minister was to get the money that he’s looking for or somewhere near to that, what is the plan of this government in terms of putting in its own money? Is there any plan for the government to put in its own money? I’ll leave it at that for this question. Thank you.

Thank you. That gives us a $1.5 million savings. Will the Minister consider using that money to build an indoor gym in Nahanni Butte?

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask questions in furtherance today on day care programs, Mr. Speaker, and my questions go to Minister Dent. Mr. Speaker, we’re all aware of the weekend meetings that were held with his provincial counterparts and other territorial Ministers responsible for day care, including the federal Minister Dryden. Could the Minister update us as to what transpired at that meeting and what seem to be the points of agreement that they still have to reach? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Chairman, thank you. I thank the Minister for that answer. Staying on the same topic of insurance, but not exactly the same as I have been asking about. The committee's report on the insurance speaks about the fact that the government has changed its deductible amount to $10 million to decrease the premium cost, but at the same time accepting more risks. For the record, could I ask the Minister whether the government has undertaken an analysis of the cost and benefit picture, of changing this risk versus cost and what their findings are so far? Thank you.