Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of child care is certainly an important one and we know that from time to time there are difficulties being faced by day care centres throughout the Northwest Territories for financial reasons. In many cases, the day cares are supported community-wise or by organizations that are established. The government, on its part, has several programs in place. One is the Early Childhood Program which provides start-up and operating and maintenance funding. It is about $800,000 a year for that, and it is allocated, I believe, on a first come, first serve basis throughout the Territory.
We have, as well, the Healthy Children's Initiative of $1.8 million, Mr. Speaker, that is provided and, again, it is applied for by communities on the basis of their particular programs. Joint decisions on that are made in concert with Education, Culture and Employment, Health and Social Services in the regional area.
There are some programs in place, Mr. Speaker. I also want to remind the Member that we are working on an early childhood development plan for the North. All of these programs, of course, are very much money driven and the question becomes, can we access that money in some fashion or other? Thank you.