This is page numbers 1397 - 1454 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was tlicho.

Topics

Further Return To Question 426-14(6): Aurora College Academic Appeal Process For Students
Question 426-14(6): Aurora College Academic Appeal Process For Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it will be of value for us to do some research as to how this is treated in other institutions, universities and colleges in other jurisdictions. That will be easy for us to find out and to follow. Mr. Speaker, even though other jurisdictions may have a particular system, that doesn't mean we have to follow that particular case in this instance. I think there's value to establishing an external review board outside of college staff and so forth, Mr. Speaker, and I believe we should pursue that. Thank you.

---Applause

Further Return To Question 426-14(6): Aurora College Academic Appeal Process For Students
Question 426-14(6): Aurora College Academic Appeal Process For Students
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1411

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I know the Minister received a letter from the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Yellowknife branch because I was cc'd on the letter, as were other Members, Mr. Speaker. They make the case that auditory problems can impair speech, language development, cause difficulties in learning to read and write and cause delays and problems in school. They go on to talk about how expensive hearing aids are. I'm wondering if the Minister has had occasion to meet with the CHHA and discuss the hearing aid issue and the importance of having hearing aids available for our youngsters in school. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the letter has been referred over to the deputy minister and we're working on a response. I have not personally sat down with the organization in question. Thank you.

Return To Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1411

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you. I certainly hope the Minister will take occasion to meet with this organization. I was surprised. This was not something that had occurred to me. Given the rate that young people grow, and they grow so quickly, they need to continually have new ear molds cast if they have hearing problems. Hearing aids can be as expensive, I understand, as much as $2,000. So if you need a couple of hearing aids and need to get them changed a couple of times a year it's quite onerous on a family. I hope the Minister will give me his commitment in the House here today that he is going to meet with this organization to discuss this very serious problem. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1411

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1411

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I would be willing and interested in sitting down with this organization. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Question 427-14(6): Impacts Of Auditory Ailments In Young People
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1411

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and it's further to my Member's statement earlier today. I know that the Minister is familiar with this issue. May I ask the Minister as to whether he would consider reviewing the procedures of his staff to see if the payments, for example, for this subsidy program could be paid to the operators in a speedy manner? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Return To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1411

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, interestingly enough, I compliment the Member for pursuing this issue because she raised the issue in June and it gave us an opportunity to follow up on what we had put into plans already to introduce in September, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I'd like to say that over the past two or three years we've substantially increased our support for daycare funding. The issues that remained on the table, Mr. Speaker, were the administrative processes. They were cumbersome and difficult for individuals applying. So we did make some changes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question that was asked was regarding payment after the fact. Today, Mr. Speaker, we pay in advance and both individuals and organizations can apply to be paid four months in advance, Mr. Speaker. That's really good governing. Thank you.

Return To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I assure you, there was no script prepared on this one. I didn't talk to him before, but I am glad to hear the Minister's answer. Mr. Speaker, may I get the Minister to comment then also on giving notice for those recipients of this subsidy who might be cut off to the operators in advance so that they are not left with a spot that was reserved for a child, but for whatever reason the department uses to cut off the subsidy, then the operators are left with a vacant position that they can't fill for another month or so? Could the Minister indicate as to whether that aspect of this program has been fixed? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1412

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of ECE, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure of the process that's followed now. It's my understanding that the organizations notify the department that there are delinquent individuals attending and when that transpires, based on attendance, Mr. Speaker, then the payments are withheld. However, I can look into this further and provide further detail to the Member and if there are complications for that we can look to see if we can streamline that even further, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1412

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1412

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the interest of a thorough and detailed answer to my constituent who has raised this issue, may I just ask the Minister to provide me with written information explaining what he has done to improve this daycare program and the procedural problems that I have indicated? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1412

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Yes, I will, Mr. Speaker. I'll put that all in writing and provide some excellent detail that I feel would be helpful for the Member. There was reference earlier to the $28 a day child subsidy. Mr. Speaker, we do pay $32 a day, but that's to a licensed daycare facility. A day home receives $28 a day and the reasons for the difference, Mr. Speaker, just to put it on the record, are that you know a licensed daycare centre has greater fixed overhead costs, they have staff, they have facility costs, maintenance and so forth, taxation on their property that they need to pay, safety measures and they have to comply very diligently to the legislation, Mr. Speaker, all of which adds a tremendous amount of cost. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1412

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Your final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1412

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought that I had given my last supplementary, but with that answer I have to challenge the Minister's notion about...

Supplementary To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1412

An Hon. Member

Excellent detail?

Supplementary To Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Question 428-14(6): Subsidy Payments To Daycare Operators
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1412

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Yes, a daycare home having less cost to operate and I could tell you, I just want to reiterate that when this daycare home only has spaces for six children and they have one or two that are on subsidy and they get cut off and get no notice, that has a huge impact. Could I get the Minister to re-examine his facts and decrease the inequality between the centres and homes? Thank you.