Debates of May 17, 2007 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommend that the department work towards increasing the number of foster homes in the NWT and that a plan, complete with numbers of existing foster homes, targeted increases and required resources, be presented to the Standing Committee on Social Programs as part of the 2009-2010 business plans. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee recommended this motion because foster parents provide a very important service. I have had the opportunity at one time to foster a couple of boys, so I have an idea of what is required of foster parents. To see that the government put a little bit more money raising the basic rates I think is a good thing. The cost is going up. One thing I would caution the government…Right now, you have people that aren’t foster parents. A lot of these people care very deeply about children, their safety and their well-being so they, regardless of the remuneration, become foster parents just because they care about the well-being of these children. Now, the rates are going up. We are hoping to increase the number of foster homes that these children can be placed into, but I do want to caution the government to take great care in selecting and choosing who can be foster parents. I don’t want to get into a situation where some people become foster parents because remuneration is a little higher than it normally is. So that would be something that I would caution the government to take into consideration. I do know that you have to go through quite a screening process to become foster parents, because of being through that and qualified foster parents in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. That is one of the reasons, Mr. Speaker, that we thought we would bring this motion forward. I think it is a good motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried