Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories made a mandate commitment in 2019 to advance universal child care by increasing availability and affordability. It is my great privilege today to announce that starting April 1st, licensed child care in the Northwest Territories will cost an average of $10 a day. This change will mean families can focus on caring for their children without the financial pressures of high child care costs. For example, a family with an infant and a preschooler in licensed care will save approximately $18,000 per year. That money can now put meals on the table, winter clothing on children, and help families with the costs of everyday life while providing access to quality care.
This milestone, reached two years ahead of schedule, is calculated by combining free programs and those that charge fees. It means that while some families may pay more than $10 a day, others may pay less than $10 a day. But on average though, licensed child care fees across our territory will be $10 a day.
Mr. Speaker, while this is exciting news for families, affordability is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to a sustainable and mature child care sector. Beyond affordability, we are focused on accessibility, improved inclusion supports, and retention and recruitment of early childhood educators. Supporting the development of necessary infrastructure, whether that is a new building or a renovated space, is pivotal to reducing wait lists and supporting parents to reenter the workforce or further their education when they are ready. The GNWT currently has a $1 million annual budget for infrastructure for early learning and child care programs but we know this is not enough to meet demand. I am pleased to share that we are, at the point, negotiating new child care infrastructure dollars for the NWT with the Government of Canada, and I look forward to sharing more details in the coming months.
Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress enough that without early childhood educators, whether they are working in family day homes, centres, or afterschool programs, our child care system would simply not exist. Early childhood educators deserve to be paid appropriately for the work they do. Over the last two years, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada have invested approximately $4.6 million in wage topups for early childhood educators at NWT centres. However, that funding was always meant to be transitional.
We are currently engaging with the sector on what comes next: A wage grid, a certification model, and new funding approaches to support licensed operators. A wage grid will establish a minimum hourly pay rate for these positions so that no one earns below that threshold. It also means that years of experience and education will be recognized.
Mr. Speaker, the last few years have included a lot of change and engagement, and we are not done yet. The GNWT will continue to engage with Indigenous governments and community partners, including the NWT Early Childhood Association. I am pleased to share that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the association recently formalized this relationship through the codevelopment of a terms of reference to support understanding of work going forward to achieve shared objectives.
Mr. Speaker, in reaching an average $10aday child care in the Northwest Territories, we have reached one of our goals, and I look forward to the work ahead to accomplish those that remain. I want to thank early childhood educators from across the territory who continue to support this critical sector and provide us with their feedback to improve it. I am committed to continuing this work and I am thankful that so many other Northerners are as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Minister's statement called Reaching Average $10 aday Child Care in the NWT be referred to Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Minister's statement will be moved into the Committee of the Whole.
---Carried
Ministers' statements. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to move to item 16 on the orders of the day. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orders of the day for Friday, February 23rd, 2024, 10 a.m.
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Oral Question 62-20(1): Consultation with Members of the Legislative Assembly on Policies and Strategies
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to the Commissioner’s Address
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Motions
Notice of Motion for First Reading of Bills
First Reading of Bills
Bill 2: Missing Person’s Act
Second Reading of Bills
Bill 1: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Minister’s Statement 4-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Season Review and Planning for the 2024 Season
Minister’s Statement 5-20(1): Emergency Management Preparation
Minister’s Statement 17-20(1): Reaching Average $10 a day Child Care in the NWT
Tabled Document 28-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2023-2024
Tabled Document 29-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2023-2024
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
