Julian Morse

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So 366 new clients. So those are 366 new individuals. Does that represent a growth of 366 clients over what was there before? So how many were registered prior to the change, I guess. Because you're saying there's 794 registered now, how many were registered before? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And so could the Minister just describe for us, and for the public, what's being done with midwifery; what is the plan going forward so the public can have some reassurance that the department's still working on developing this program. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's actually just a question of clarification. I have some questions about the midwifery program. I'm just wondering where we can actually find that on these pages because it's not specifically listed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that answer. That does, I think, provide somewhat of a path. I mean, fundraising is something that they could be doing in order to do these extra programs, so that's something I can bring back to them as an option and I hope the Minister -- but to get to the next question, Mr. Speaker, if charging fees isn't allowed, I'm looking at what can we do to change this gap -- to close this gap as MLAs. I know that my colleagues probably join me in wanting to do what we can for the daycares, do what we can to help them expand, help them operate...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm glad the Minister highlighted that because that dovetails well with the question I was about to ask.

Mr. Speaker, operators are telling us that they can't charge fees for additional services like providing healthy meals, extracurricular programming, or even making up the gap between what the government is willing to give and what daycare operators need to be paying in order to keep staff. So, again, is that a rule being imposed on us by the feds or the GNWT, and can we change these things that are creating problems for operators?

Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this question is -- these questions are for the Minister of ECE.

Mr. Speaker, I've been speaking with daycare operators. The wage certification grid that the government has brought out is causing difficulties for operators in a time when we're trying to expand daycare spaces. Mr. Speaker, is this new grid something that's been imposed on us by the federal government, or is it our own program? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair -- or sorry, my apologies. Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a force of habit there. No, I'm okay for now. Thank you.

Yes, Madam Chair. Thank you. Okay, so considering there's a position here, I may as well just ask the question.

I understand that there's a certain amount of reduction being done to this program in this budget, and I'm just looking for some clarification. It looks like there's $315,000 adjustment. You know, this is something that MLAs fought for hard during the last budget negotiations. So can the Minister just clarify to us, and for the public, what exactly is happening here. Is this like a -- are they bringing the cut back, or what -- how can they explain this? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, certainly I'm interested in hearing back from the Minister what they need to help make a difference, and I can advocate on this side with my colleagues to see if we can get that done.

Mr. Speaker, considering the problems that this new program is causing, and I'm hearing it from many of my constituents, and I'm sure it's happening across the country, can the Minister work with her colleagues in the provinces to advocate to the federal government for better flexibility for implementation of this program seeing the issues that we've been seeing, knowing that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd just like to continue on the line of questioning and dig a little deeper with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, I had asked about the possibility of daycares charging fees in order to make up the gap. Is there perhaps a loophole that could be found in that daycares would not be charging fees for providing daycare but simply for charging -- for extras, things like providing meals, things like extracurricular activities that I know parents love having for their children. So is there some way that we can find a way around the...