Debates of October 18, 2005 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is also about the impending closure of the day care in Fort Smith. Mr. Speaker, I realize that the Premier is not involved in the day-to-day management of the file, but I would appreciate it if the Premier would take this question. My question is, given the fact that there are so few days left -- this day care is up for closure within a week or so, within a couple of weeks -- it appears from listening to the answers that the Premier gave to the Member for Monfwi, that there are some documents or records that the government is looking for to decide whether any kind of assistance could be given. I would like to know from the Premier if he could make a commitment to look at this prior to October 28th. Once it is closed, it is really hard to get things restarted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 148-15(4): Closure Of Fort Smith Day Care Centre

Mr. Speaker, we need to have the completed financial records in our hands to have a look at them, so we know the status of the day care before we can look at what alternatives there might be. We need that, first of all. I understand that the director is working on it, so as soon as those are available to us, we can do it. I can't guarantee -- because I am not in control of that -- when she would have that work completed, and whether it would be before this House recesses. Mr. Speaker, as we get more information, we will look at it, and certainly look at all day cares across the Northwest Territories, but I can't give assurances that it will be October 28th. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 148-15(4): Closure Of Fort Smith Day Care Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that this issue has been going on and there have been problems expressed to the Minister, difficulties that the society has been experiencing for the last year. I don't know why it has taken until the midnight hour to figure this out.

Could I ask the Premier, if the director provides the government with the information, would the Premier work with the Minister of ECE to do all that the government can do to keep that facility open, and give them the reasonable assistance that they need to get through? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 148-15(4): Closure Of Fort Smith Day Care Centre

Mr. Speaker, I want to see the financial records first. I am sure the Minister responsible wants to see them first.

Mr. Speaker, we want to have day care spaces where they are needed, and particularly for the students. But, Mr. Speaker, I can say that that day care in Fort Smith gets all of the same per child benefits that any day care gets, plus they get free accommodation, including O and M in one of the buildings there. We are providing as much and probably more than we are for many day cares across the Northwest Territories in this situation.

Mr. Speaker, we want to be careful with what we do, that we are not providing an unfair advantage or amount of money for one day care that we are not giving to others. Mr. Speaker, this issue is immediate, it is urgent, we want to find some alternatives, but at the same time, we have to look at the support that we are providing to day cares right across the Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 148-15(4): Closure Of Fort Smith Day Care Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have a whole lot of details to this case specifically, but it seems to be obvious to me that it is quite complex, and there are many sides to this story, with the emphasis being put on financial records and such. I listened, with a great deal of interest, to what the Premier said in his answer to my second question, and that was that he would look at all the day care programs and see how they are running. The fact of the matter is, even per diems are not given when a child doesn't show up; for example, even if you have to light the place and water the place and such. Would the Premier look at the overall picture of how adequate our per diem funding is to day care facilities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 148-15(4): Closure Of Fort Smith Day Care Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister responsible is undertaking a review of the regulations under the Child Day Care Act right now. He is, today, on his way to a federal/territorial/provincial meeting to deal with early learning and childcare. We have been struggling with the position taken by Canada on per capita money for early childhood learning. These are all issues that affect what we are doing.

Mr. Speaker, I will take this issue up with the Minister responsible for this file as soon as possible. As I say, we treat it very seriously right across the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 148-15(4): Closure Of Fort Smith Day Care Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to set aside the whole issue about getting money from the federal government. That is totally another issue, and it doesn't really matter how much money we get, it is how we fund our programs. Let me tell you, in this House, all the people that work for us, they still get paid if Members don't show up, if one of us don't show up. Why is it then okay for day care not to be paid if a child doesn't show up? That makes no sense. Overhead costs are exactly the same. I would like to ask the Premier to look at questions like that, about are we being fair in our funding to day cares. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 148-15(4): Closure Of Fort Smith Day Care Centre

Mr. Speaker, I don’t know all the details of why young preschoolers in the day care would be eligible if they are missing a day here or there. I don’t understand that. I do know we do fund day cares based on a number of preschoolers, babies who are enrolled, not on the occupancy. If we did that, we might be funding a lot of empty spaces. Mr. Speaker, I will talk with the Minister on this issue. We will get more information, and I certainly agree with the Member that this is a very serious issue and one we will look at very carefully. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.