Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to supporting parents and caregivers in their efforts to nurture children’s development from birth. A better start in learning leads to greater success in life. With that in mind, I would like to share with you some recent changes to the Early Childhood Program.

Our Early Childhood Program provides contribution funding for both the start-up and operation of licensed day homes and childcare facilities. As of April 1, 2007, our government has increased the amount of those contributions by 30 percent. What does that mean for caregivers? As an example, in Gameti, the daily contribution for preschool space was $11.20. As of April 1st, that contribution is now $14.60. The daily contribution for an infant has increased from $16.80 to $21.80. Contribution amounts vary from community to community and are based on the cost of living.

In addition to this increase, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment recently provided one-time funding, under the program enhancement grant, that makes it possible for licensed caregivers to upgrade equipment and play space.

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to announce that $125,000 will be available to assist licensed non-profit childcare facilities that are experiencing high rental costs. The funding will be made available on an application basis, taking into account the circumstances of those childcare facilities that are faced with comparatively higher costs than others. Details are being finalized and full information will be provided to each childcare facility in early June.

In addition to direct contributions to caregivers, ECE supports early childhood development in a variety of ways. For instance, we continue to invest in early and family literacy through the work of the NWT Literacy Council. The council has trained approximately 200

community people in the development and delivery of family literacy workshops.

The Language Nest initiative helps to support 20 community-based licensed early childhood programs that deliver aboriginal language and cultural immersion programs and thus contribute to the revitalization and retention of aboriginal languages and culture.

ECE also partners with Aurora College to deliver the Early Childhood Education Certificate Program that combines distance and on-site delivery of courses. The program delivers early childhood development training for those working in early learning and childcare programs. Aurora College is also researching the development of an aboriginal early childhood education course.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Healthy Children initiative, a partnership between the departments of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment, continues to support existing programs for preschool children. Funding is provided to community-based organizations to assist in the development of early childhood programs at the local level.

Mr. Speaker, early childhood education is an essential first step in the process of lifelong learning; one that we will continue to support, Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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