Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Priorities set by the Members of the 17th Legislative Assembly include increased employment opportunities where they are most needed. One facet of that priority is supporting child care programs to help parents become or stay employed. In the No Place for Poverty report drafted in 2010, the number two recommendation is child care, that any effort to adjust poverty must include quality, accessible, affordable and reliable child care and early childhood development.
Research has proven that children who have access to early childhood development programs have a high success rate further in life. This would address some of our social issues that we are facing today in the North. More importantly, recently the Town of Inuvik has contributed $2.3 million to an early childhood development centre in Inuvik. That goes above and beyond the mandate of the town council and shows that they have a vested interest in the community of Inuvik and the members of their riding as well.
Also, there is a group of dedicated volunteers, the Children First Society, who have worked endless hours to fundraise $1.5 million over the past couple of years for the same cause. The current facility, the Inuvik Child Development Centre, has 46 licensed spots. With the new school being built and ready for move in in the fall of 2012, these spots, this facility is not going to be available anymore for future use.
The proposed new child care facility is said to have 120 spots available for people and children of Inuvik. This would allow single parents to get back into the workforce and would give families an opportunity to become a double-income household. More importantly, it would give the children of Inuvik an early start into living a successful, healthy and educated life. The people of Inuvik have invested time, energy and money for the future of the community, the region and, more importantly, the future of the children.
Currently, the Children First Society is seeking an additional $1.5 million to complete the centre.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
One avenue that the Children First Society has taken is through the Aviva Community Fund. Should they be successful, they would receive a grant in the amount of $150,000. They’ve been doing a great job, working long hours and doing a lot of campaigning in this area.
As the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake riding, I’m in strong support of this challenge and in strong support of this facility. I encourage the people of the Northwest Territories to also jump on board and go to the Aviva Community Fund website and put a vote in on a daily basis to go for this Children First Centre.
I would also like support from this government to ensure that the Children First Centre does become a reality in this government, and that we can provide the same infrastructure and programs in all communities across the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
