Debates of March 24, 2004 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my previous statements I spoke about the seniors of the NWT and their ever-increasing role of importance in the success of many of the various programs and services of this government and of the many benefits to our society. Today, Mr. Speaker, I will speak for persons on the other end of the spectrum who cannot hear their concerns in this House yet.

Mr. Speaker, today I’d like to speak about our children and the three-year early childhood development framework for action funding which comes to an end March 31, 2004. Mr. Speaker, during the past few months I have received numerous calls and letters from my constituents of Lutselk’e and Deninu Kue regarding budget cuts in this area. I was very impressed with how the family literacy programs and the early childhood programs have positively impacted my constituents, and with the high level of concern my constituents show in not wanting these programs to be affected by the current budget restraints.

Programs such as these are important for helping our children develop their literacy and language skills, as well as developing healthy parent/child relationships. I have directed some related correspondence about these concerns to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and made him aware that I am fully in support of my constituents’ requests so that the budget cuts do not affect the literacy and early childhood development areas.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve also brought to the attention of the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment the speech from the Throne regarding the multilateral framework for early learning and childcare, and that the Minister acknowledged that his officials will continue to be in contact with their federal, provincial and territorial colleagues to monitor developments that will come out of this speech from the Throne. Mr. Speaker, I will later be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to keep me informed as to how the changes in the literacy and early childhood programs after March 31st will affect my riding, the residents of the NWT and especially our most valued resources and our future, the children of the NWT, who should be provided and supported by this government with every opportunity to succeed. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause