Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year, on February 23rd, 2024, the Minister of ECE said that ECE is committed to providing sustainable funding to daycares and I am committed to the relationship with childcare providers in finding out what it is they need and how we can support one another. I do believe that statement is true. But there's another voice in the conversation which is that of the territory's largest childcare operator.
Mr. Speaker, last week I received a letter from the constituent who is also a board member of that operator. With their consent, I shared it with the Minister. They outline that this operator is not looking for money from the GNWT but rather a commitment to help them be sustainable. They want to provide a living wage and cost of living increases for their staff, not just for ELCC workers but also their cleaning and cooking staff. Under the current wage grid, they can't do this. Workers haven't received raises in years. They want to ensure that their building has a reserve fund to ensure that they have a cushion to replace the roof, window, or other capital needs throughout the life cycle of the building. Ultimately, they're struggling to cover basic costs because, for this operator, ECE's regulations have created financial pressures such that they can't take basic steps to be a fiscally responsible organization. They want to expand programming and offer more spaces because, as we all know, the Hunger Games for childcare spaces in Yellowknife is in full effect. May the odds ever be in our favour if you want to grow your family and work to pay your bills.
Mr. Speaker, I received a text this morning that this operator had to ask parents to keep kids home today due to staffing pressures. There's no slack when multiple staff are sick. Mr. Speaker, today I'll have questions for the Minister of ECE.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
