Tom Beaulieu

Mr. Chairman, I move that the chairman rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favour of this motion. I believe that there have been mistakes made in the delivery of goods to the High Arctic communities. Initially, when NTCL was purchased by this government, I was surprised. I believe it happened around Christmas a couple years ago. I was surprised that NTCL was purchased and then, further on, surprised that MTS was created out of NTCL.

At that point, I thought, well, I guess it would be a positive thing since NTCL may not be able to continue operations, but I also felt that, with our growing debt, I thought it would...

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to do a eulogy for two men who were lifelong residents of the Northwest Territories; both of whom were close friends of mine. Their names are Charles Larocque and William Larocque. They were first cousins, and they passed away about a month apart last September and last August.

Mr. Speaker, Charles Larocque was born on July 17, 1955, and passed away at the age of 63 on September 27, 2018. Charles had a nickname. To everyone who knew him, he was "Sunshine." Sunshine was predeceased by his father, Archie Larocque, and his brothers, Johnny...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's good news. Mr. Speaker, within that specific area where we have individuals working for the department who can establish daycares, we have a daycare and we also have some other programs for individuals where children go to, similar to daycares. I'm wondering if that money could also be used where those people could also be to assist daycares that currently exist to enhance the programs that the current daycares are offering. Thank you.

I would like to ask the Minister if there are any plans toward creating a universal daycare program in the NWT?

Marsi, cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I will speak on the need to increase spending in early childhood development. Addressing this issue must be a solid joint effort on the part of our government.

Mr. Speaker, I will begin with the work needed in prenatal care. It is essential that we provide as much support as possible to women who are at risk of consuming alcohol while pregnant, because our territory depends on it. I believe the difference in the government spending between a person with FASD and a person without this disorder is over $1 million.

Mr. Speaker, we must invest in daycares...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee would like to consider Committee Report 9-18(3), A Report on the Review of Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act; and Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to ask the Minister if the department has a group or groups of people who are working for the department who will assist community groups in establishing daycares for it where daycares don't currently exist.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, part of my Member's statement was talking about daycares. I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

In April 2018, the federal government announced $7 million dedicated to childcare in the NWT. I'm wondering if there are any plans yet for where some of that money will go and if any of that money would be allocated to communities in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, usually when they haul fish from one location to another, they put it in ice, and in places where they are picking it up on the lakes and so on, they have a place where individuals can go repack the fish that they're getting out of the nets, and packing it in ice and so on, and that usually means in a building of some sort. If it's not an abattoir that is going to be there at the collection station, will there be another type of building there where they can work on preparing the fish for pick-up? Thank you, Mr. Chair.