Wendy Bisaro

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Neudorf.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this motion. I very strongly support this motion. The sentiments towards the need for early childhood development programming have been expressed by pretty much all Members here. I totally agree with the sentiments that have been expressed by my colleagues. I appreciate the actions that are currently being undertaken by the departments of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment. I believe it is a start. I believe it is a slow start, but I’m very glad to see that they’re doing some work and that they’re working together...

Minister Ramsay.

Thank you. Page 11-21, activity summary, highways, operations expenditure summary, $67.844 million. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A couple of questions here, and my first question has to do with Aurora College. I mentioned in my opening remarks that I have some concerns about the college. I talked a bit about ALBE and I think I’ve kind of covered my concerns in that area, but I do have some concerns, major concerns with the reorganization that the college seems to have undergone in the last little while, and as a result of that reorg it’s my understanding that it is a result of the reorg that we have a lot of people, long-term college staff who have left the employ of the college.

I guess I would...

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment in its 2012-2013 budget has a number of new initiatives, two of which are a new kindergarten curriculum and measuring children’s development in kindergarten. Those are good, but it’s not all of what is needed. If we wait to start early intervention until preschool or kindergarten, we’ve missed a huge opportunity to address any health or learning issues at an age when intervention can really make a difference.

As my colleague Mr. Bromley has often told us, brain development begins in the womb and continues at a rapid...

Okay, we will move on to detail. We will turn to page 11-7, which is deferred until we’ve considered the rest of the budget. We’ll move to 11-8, information item, infrastructure investment summary. Seeing no questions, we’ll move on to page 11-9, information item, revenue summary. Seeing no questions, we will move on to page 11-9, information item, revenue summary. No questions. We will move on to page 11-10, information item, active position summary. Any questions on this page? We’ll move on, committee. Page 11-13, activity summary, corporate services, operations expenditure summary, $10.228...

Thank you. Page 11-18, activity summary, airports, grants and contributions, contributions, $30,000.

I’m sorry. I couldn’t hear the Minister. Could he repeat that?