Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak in favour of the National Childcare Program. Mr. Speaker, I am very excited about the debate going on across the country that has put this issue on top of the national agenda. This is long overdue, and I strongly urge the federal government and all provincial and territorial governments, including this government, to apply all of their energy and commitment necessary to make this happen once and for all.

Mr. Speaker, a recent survey has shown that, in Canada, more than 50 percent of children are taken care of by a person or persons other than their own parents; a huge jump in only a very short time. I venture to say that the percentage is even higher in a city like Yellowknife where the cost of living is very high and most families cannot afford to not have a double income and where most families do not have extended families to rely on for childcare needs.

Mr. Speaker, over the years, I have heard from my constituents and women of my generation about the need for the government to step in and give the working parents a financial break with the high cost of raising their children, whether they choose to do it themselves or obtain the service of others. I believe that any national childcare program must have appropriate flexibility for families to make the choices that work for them. Whatever this works out to be, it has to be one that puts in place good quality early child education, not just a babysitting service at a basic minimum level. In the end, Mr. Speaker, I really believe this is about our society making it clear once and for all that we really value the importance of good early education for all of our children that we, as a society -- whether it is done by parents staying at home or by those who we pay to do it -- value the work of childcare because it is about our children and their future. The work of childcare and those who do it have been undervalued and underappreciated by the governments for too long, and it is time now to say no more, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I really see much opportunity for this in the North as well. I am sure Minister Dent and the Cabinet see it as well. We need to implement a spectrum of quality early childcare education that begins as early as…Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement?

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I just conclude by saying that I really see this debate as an opportunity for all of us in the North. It is an opportunity to implement a spectrum of quality early childcare education that begins at the age of one, not at the age of five, so that we give our children a real head start in life. There is just no more important work for us to do. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I know that Minister Ken Dryden is a huge hero to the hockey fans all across Canada, but, oh boy, if he could score this one in the net, I know he will be a hero to all Canadians for ever and ever. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause