Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, my questions are directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, the current Norman Wells daycare center is fully furnished, and the power remains hooked up. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the Minister for the previous letters of support submitted to the new daycare society. I'm very encouraged by this new society of young parents, long-term residents, and their new energy to get this centre up and running. My first question is: the society has submitted to the department an application for start-up funds. When can they receive a reply to that application? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I really want to start with saying that I'm really excited about Norman Wells' daycare. One of our mandates is to get daycares in every community, as many as possible. There is lots of research. I could go on and on about the amount of research that says early intervention is the best intervention for children to ensure that they are successful in life. So Norman Wells is one that we've been watching closely. We're working closely with that community. I know that they have submitted their application. There are a little bit of processes: they need to get a fire and a health inspection. We are willing to work with them, and then, once those inspections are done, we're hoping that they'll be able to start to provide services to children.
I'll ask the question again: when can they receive a reply to the submitted application from the society?
As a commitment, I know that there are processes, but, if it makes the MLA feel better, then I can commit to, by the end of this week, we will phone Norman Wells' daycare society and actually help them to give them an answer and tell them what they need to go through. It is a process. They need to apply for the health and safety, they need to apply to the fire marshal to get those inspections. It's not as easy as just one department taking this over, but we are willing to work with them as much as possible to make this a reality.
Now we have a deadline for a yes or a no. My next questions is: because the society has limitations, will the Minister's regional office assist the society in working with the Department of Infrastructure to certify the building, as the Minister mentioned earlier, for the assistance
I've said it, and I'll say it again, that we are committed to making this a reality. We will do whatever we can to support the daycare. I'm not even sure what they're called, but the daycare center in Norman Wells. So, if that means working with Infrastructure, if that means helping them to fill out the applications, if that means walking into offices, we will do what we need to do to make this a reality.
Masi. Member for Sahtu.
I'm very encouraged by the energy of the Minister's statement to assist the society. You can imagine, the society, I know the individuals, they're young parents. They don't know the difference between a two-by-four and a building code, so I'm encouraged by the Minister's statement to help the young parents. Mahsi.
Masi. I'll take that as a comment. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
