Thank you, Madam Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to speak to the issue today, and I want to thank the Minister for acknowledging how important the role of education is to our young people, but some of the stuff I heard today did cause great concern. I know not one person who doesn’t believe in the first line of principles talked about, whereas the community is very concerned and certainly supports the physical health, emotional health, social and cognitive development of children. I think, as well, equally strong, that the Early Childhood Development Action Plan is a great concept, but like all great concepts, there’s always the old unfortunate “but.”
Minister Jackson Lafferty did say, well, by the way, it’s all free. As well as he went on to say that there will be wage subsidies, they will be helping current practitioners process their paperwork, credentials, scholarships and incentives. The question really comes down to how are we going to pay. Somebody has to be asking these questions.
I almost think it’s irresponsible to be launching such a great initiative without somebody asking the barebones question. All of this stuff for free comes at a cost. I know yesterday we had heard the chair of the YK No. 1 school board concerned over are the costs going to come down to the school boards.
If I may describe it as children and young people receive 13 years of school. That is kindergarten with the additional grades 1 to 12. Are the school boards now going to be forced to provide a 14th year, one additional year without appropriate funding or, of course, will they just shuffle around the PTR ratio? That’s the pupil-teacher ratio, for those who are not familiar with that.
This is a great initiative and I do not know anyone who would balk against it. The issue is how we are going to pay for it. Although it may be welcome news that it will be free, but nothing is free. As Members sit over here and wonder what is going to happen, again, I cite that it is irresponsible to launch such a major initiative without the facts of how we’re going to pay for it. We’re all too familiar with the old saying sometimes you have to steal from Peter to pay Paul. I can tell you, the school boards right now are dreading the next phone call from the Minister wondering if they will be Peter. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
