Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question here today is directed to the Minister of ECE following up from the June 7th Hansard here on the issues of day homes and day cares. If the Minister could elaborate on what has been in place here going back to the question that I brought up at the time here that there would be those facilities rolled out in October. So if I can get a status reply? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With all the communities we do have some communities that have early childhood programs, some that don't. We also have funding allocated to some of these communities. For instance, in Deline pre-school we have 15 pre-school spaces. We fund just over $37,000 for that. We have funding for the Behdzi Ahda First Nation still there's no licensed program but we do have the funding there. There's funding that's allocated to Norman Wells to do some work; nothing has come to date yet; we're still trying to find an organization or group to work with. In Tulita we do have 20 pre-school spaces and we currently fund them over $40,000. Mr. Speaker, I might add with start-up costs, we do have a very good incentive package for organizations, even individuals that own their own home that might want to start up a daycare or a day home and we can provide that information to the Member that he can provide to his communities as well. Thank you.
It's very good to hear that the programs are there to help the working parents that are having their children attend school, and the ones that are not are looking at opportunities such as the program funding available to initiate a day home. Can the Minister elaborate on any facilities in the day home category in the five Sahtu communities?
Currently, I don't think there's any day homes that are licensed right now in the Sahtu communities. I can go and do a scan and see if there are any and also develop some packages that we could hand out to people who own their own homes and who might want to start up a day home. Like I said, we have a very good incentive package, but I can get that information and get it to the Member.
I'm glad to hear that the programs and services and criteria and guidelines are there as well as the money is there. Would the Minister commit to having these opportunities for funding to support the day home through a briefing presentation to the community by community leadership in the five communities?
Since I've been in the position, I've been to about 20 of the 33 communities in the NWT speaking on all the initiatives through the Department of ECE, and listening to the concerns of the people. I am looking forward to doing a tour of the Sahtu, not only bringing information on early childhood programming, the day homes, the daycares, but also all information that we take control of in the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and we'll work with the Member to get that tour set up at some point.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
