Debates of February 25, 2005 (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided).

Today I would like to talk about day care options in the communities that I represent in Nahendeh. In Fort Simpson there are adequate options available to organizations and private businesses that may wish to rent space to provide day care services. The question that day care operators in Fort Simpson have is related to the adequacy of the subsidy of each child and the amount available from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for renovations and purchasing new equipment.

The department will have to seriously look at the level of subsidy and other supports that are provided to day care operators in larger centres to ensure the long-term viability of this operation.

Mr. Speaker, the other side of the picture for day care in Nahendeh are the situations in the smaller communities that I represent. Simply put, there are no facilities in these smaller communities for anyone to set up a day care facility. In these communities, Mr. Speaker, we must rely on Granny to provide these day care services.

---Laughter

This is the available workforce, so we need to adjust our systems that regulate the provision of day care to allow communities to use the resources and people that are available to them. Whatever happens out of any new day care funding that may come from the federal government, it is important, Mr. Speaker, that we adjust our programs to meet the day care needs of the parents at the community level. Day care solutions made in Yellowknife, based on southern Canadian best practices, may not work in the NWT’s smaller communities. We need solutions that meet the needs of parents and keep the children safe and happy.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we need flexibility on the part of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to make this happen. Mahsi cho.

---Applause