Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. One of the key messages included in the pre-budget consultation report that your committee had the pleasure of introducing yesterday was about the importance of early childhood development programs. We all know that this is an upfront investment. When we make an investment in our children, it certainly pays off down the road.

A number of organizations, including the NWT Status of Women Council and Alternatives North, made note of the need for this government to continue to lobby the federal government for a fair allocation of childcare dollars to the NWT. Mr. Speaker, as the NWT Status of Women Council wrote in their submission, access to childcare is an essential factor in achieving economic equality for women, and in maximizing the potential of the NWT labour force. Early in their new term, Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government announced a $5 billion commitment for a national childcare system. It is my understanding that the federal government -- the Minister Ken Dryden -- continued to insist, though, that the Government of the NWT accept a per capita allocation of this funding. This is not acceptable.

Hear! Hear!

Bill Braden

Great Slave

The costs of providing childcare in the North are clearly higher than in other parts of the country. The Government of the NWT has been working closely with other territories to hammer out a deal with Canada that would provide adequate base funding to make a real difference in providing this critically needed programming in the North. We have seen the federal government recognize our unique health challenges, such as with the Health Care Accord reached last fall. The Early Learning and Childcare Agreement that has been in place in this government since 2001 serves as a framework for the strengthening of licensed programs for children.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that our Minister, Charles Dent, will be in Ottawa this week to meet with his territorial and provincial counterparts, as well as Minister Dryden from Canada. I would urge Minister Dent and this government to continue to press the federal government to fund childcare programs in a manner that recognizes the higher cost of providing these services here in the NWT. Anything else is not acceptable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause