Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. A while ago I was cleaning out my office and came across a paper that was a response from the Minister in answer to my questions about daycare funding from quite some time ago. I’ve expressed concerns several times to the Minister on the manner in which we fund our daycares. On February 15th, in answer to questions from Mr. Hawkins, the Minister stated that the department has done a review of this issue.
My first question to the Minister is this: what was the substance of that review and what exactly was reviewed by the department?
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. That specific information I need to get for the Member. I don’t have that detailed information in front of me right now.
I was going to ask the Minister what the findings of the review were, but if he doesn’t know what was reviewed, I guess he doesn’t know what the findings were. I’ll ask him instead: is he aware of any changes in the method by which daycares will be funded that might be coming forward shortly?
Those are the discussions that we’ve had with the Members as well, also the organizations: what needs to be amended, depending on what kind of program dollars are being expended to daycare operators and other operators and services that are being provided. Those are the discussions that we’ve had and part of the report that has been referred to has been highlighted as well.
I’ve mentioned a number of times that I think daycares need to be funded differently so that they can have some stable funding to rely on so they’re not living from hand to mouth from one week to the next. I guess I need to go back and ask the Minister, was there a review done? I’m a little confused by his last answer. He mentions a report. Was a review done, is there a report, and is it available for Members to see? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the specific review, again, I have to get that information for the Member. What were the highlights of the review and what needs to be changed, if there needs to be changes, that is the information that I was referring to that I would provide to the Members. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
