Debates of October 30, 2006 (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back in February, I had asked a number of questions to the Minister of ECE in regards to day care spaces and inequities that exist amongst day care providers. Mr. Speaker, as I pointed out in my Member’s statement, the government spends roughly $32 million a year on corrections and just under $5 million on early childhood development. This is a ratio or something that just shouldn’t be allowed to happen. I would say that if we tried to get those numbers a little bit closer in the next 20 years, we wouldn’t be spending as much in the area of corrections, Mr. Speaker. What exactly has the Minister’s department done since February in regard to addressing the inequities that exist amongst day care providers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 223-15(5): Shortage Of Day Care Spaces And Childcare Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In response to Mr. Ramsay in February, I did indicate that the department was willing to talk to day care operators about the inequities in the subsidies. The instructions to the department were to ensure that discussion took place with operators when they were discussing the new regulations that we have been working on. I expect to have some results from that here very shortly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 223-15(5): Shortage Of Day Care Spaces And Childcare Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to that taking place and the fallout of what that might be after the discussions take place with the day care providers. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has developed a program that pays each family $100 per month for each child under six. I am wondering what the intent of the Government of the Northwest Territories is to work in conjunction with that federal program to offer how we might augment that program with something we could offer here in the Northwest Territories to parents looking for day care space and some help. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 223-15(5): Shortage Of Day Care Spaces And Childcare Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d certainly enjoy an opportunity to look at changing our subsidy program so that parents could see more support through this government as well. However, we need to identify more revenues. As Members around this table know, we are challenged to meet our current obligations and are running into what the Minister of Finance has called a debt wall not too far off in the future if we don’t get more money from Ottawa. So it is certainly something we have plans for, but to be able to deliver that kind of program, we need to have more revenues. This government needs to have more income to be able to put it into families’ pockets. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 223-15(5): Shortage Of Day Care Spaces And Childcare Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it gets back to priorities and setting priorities in the government. I could tell the Minister right off the top of my head where $2 million could be easily found, and that’s repatriating the jobs from his department back to the Housing Corporation and scraping the macroeconomic policy shop that’s planned.

But, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to ask the Minister, given the fact that there’s a shortage of trained childcare workers here in the Northwest Territories, what strategy or plans does the Minister have to help us get more trained childcare workers here in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 223-15(5): Shortage Of Day Care Spaces And Childcare Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The importance of trained childcare workers can’t be understated. It is an area that we need to concentrate on. Aurora College has an ongoing program of training. They offer continuous courses through either distance education or by workshop every year to help people achieve their certificate. There are going to be four courses offered this winter to help people across the North get closer to achieving their certificate, and the college will continue to offer that kind of programming. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 223-15(5): Shortage Of Day Care Spaces And Childcare Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess it’s quite obvious, given my line of questioning here and my Member’s statement today, that I don’t think we’re doing enough as a government to address the area of day care and the space that’s provided, the training for childcare workers and whatnot, and I’d like to ask the Minister, given the fact that all these problems are evident, can he come up with a research method or some kind of strategy or if he needs more help I think we need to explore all of our options here in this area and I’d like the Minister to commit today to doing that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 223-15(5): Shortage Of Day Care Spaces And Childcare Workers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be happy to work with Members to identify ways in which we can improve our support. As I said earlier, I have already got the plans for an improved subsidy. I would dearly love to be able to offer improved capital grants to operators, but that’s going to take more money that this government doesn’t have. We need to find ways to improve our income as a government in order to be able to get those subsidies to people in the North. I’m quite prepared to work with Members and to see if we can find ways to achieve betterment. Thank you.