Debates of February 10, 2006 (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've got a number of questions. I guess I'm going to start with questions for the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, the Honourable Floyd Roland, and it gets back to the issue of leases for non-profit day cares. I'd like to, first of all, ask the Minister if he's aware of the lease that he has with non-profit day cares here in the city of Yellowknife, and the inequities that are at play with the operation of other non-profit day cares here in the city of Yellowknife. I guess the first question would be if he's aware of the charity lease and the benefit that that provides to operating non-profit day cares here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister responsible for Public Works, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 375-15(4): Non-Profit Day Cares In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am aware that we do have a number of charity leases throughout the government. It's not a standing policy; it's something that's developed over time when a unit has become available and an organization would put in a request to take over that facility. So, yes, I'm aware of our leases. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 375-15(4): Non-Profit Day Cares In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Public Works and Services if Public Works and Services is in the business of providing charity leases to certain day cares, I'm wondering how they can do it for one day care and not do it for the other day care. I'm wonder if there's even been a discussion between Public Works and Services and the Department of Education on this inequity that exists and how we might be able to overcome that.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 375-15(4): Non-Profit Day Cares In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, overall, it's a policy of government not to interrupt the business environment. But being that a lot of these organizations are charitable organizations or societies trying to fill a basic need in a community, it was developed almost as a case-by-case scenario. There is no set policy in place. It is, again as I stated earlier, as one facility comes up for surplus, we would approach communities, our leadership, our other government departments, for potential uses. From time to time, as we have found, there's a number of them out there, not only to day care associations but to other associations, as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 375-15(4): Non-Profit Day Cares In The NWT

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think we have a serious situation on our hands with the possibility of non-profit day cares not being able to operate because they're not on the same level playing field that I believe that they should be on, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister of Public Works and Services if they've ever had discussions regarding whether or not Public Works and Services and the Department of Education could look at providing something like rent subsidies, or something to that effect, so that all non-profit day cares are on the same page, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 375-15(4): Non-Profit Day Cares In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just for the record, as well, the charity leases that we have in place are to non-profit organizations, whether it's the day cares or day care facilities, or women's associations, things of that…preschools. I'd be willing to have that discussion about the government's role in trying to do these things. As I said, we don't have a policy in place, but it is probably coming to the time where we do need to look at the environment that we're operating in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 375-15(4): Non-Profit Day Cares In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Final question, I guess. I'd like to ask, is it fair that one non-profit day care is provided maintenance costs, rent-free environment which totals over $80,000, while the other day care is left to pay their own operating cost, their own rent and their own maintenance costs? Is that fair, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 375-15(4): Non-Profit Day Cares In The NWT

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Member's seeking my personal opinion on that basis, I mean everybody asks for the same field to be on, I guess, or the same level to be operating under. So we understand there's a difficulty there. As I stated earlier, initially when these things first came in place, it is a case-by-case scenario, and we're going to have to review that and how we become involved, probably, and whether it's a small community or a large centre. So I guess all I can say to this is we will look at the way we've structured our charity leases and how we will continue to either support them or work around that issue. Thank you.