Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the issue of day cares, there was a perceived need raised by Members of the Legislative Assembly about increasing the available amount of funds for day cares across the Northwest Territories. This is what the budget attempts to do.
What has never been available is capital dollars for day care facilities. What the programs have done over the years is make day care operational funding and maintenance funding available to all communities. Generally, those communities that were interested and could free up housing units or office space, whatever space was necessary and available, were able to capitalize and they also could raise some of that money and find the necessary staff and meet the criteria required for the safe operation of day cares.
I am aware that some of the communities simply do not have units available that could be converted under existing guidelines to be used as day care facilities. We are prepared to consider specific proposals that might address those situations. Thank you.