Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
The community of Lutselk’e has not been able to maintain their Tinkering Tots Daycare and Preschool Program. There simply isn’t enough money for this essential service in Lutselk’e.
These programs are very much needed. In the fall of 2010, negotiations between Lutselk’e First Nation and Education, Culture and Employment to offer preschool at the Lutselk’e Dene School occurred, but due to renovations not being completed in the summer of 2010, the program could not get final approval. The Lutselk’e First Nation would like to see the program get final approval and put into place in the near future.
Lutselk’e presently does not have a suitable building, government or non-government, or even a large room within a building to house and facilitate a daycare and preschool program. At the present time, many youth and young parents in Lutselk’e are interested in taking local upgrading programs but do not have a daycare that they can rely on.
The Lutselk’e Dene First Nation is in full support of a daycare and preschool program and is in definite need of a facility to house those programs. They also require training dollars to mentor a few individuals to become certified child care practitioners, as current regulations and funding sources require daycare/child care staff to be fully accredited and licensed in order to operate.
In order for students to have the maximum benefit of kindergarten and be ready for school, students must have the basic language skills in place, an ability to express themselves, and needed social skills that will allow them to listen, follow directions, to focus with interest, to ask and answer questions, to express themselves, and to respect and learn and cooperate with their peers.
Preschool is an essential part of education. Many four-year-old children who do not have the advantage of supportive, literacy-rich home environments and the experience of at least one year in preschool often arrive in kindergarten several years ahead at this time.
I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
