Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize National Chief Nolene Villebrun, and I think it's Lawrence, from Rocher River. I'd also like, Mr. Speaker, to recognize Trevor Harding, a former Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, a Minister of Energy, Minister of Economic Development, and also leader of the opposition, I believe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize the Dene national chief and former constituent, Nolene Villebrun, and a former constituent of

mine who still has a lot of family back in my constituency, Lawrence Beaulieu. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize a constituent and local businesswoman, Ms. Karen Hollett, who owns Arctic Wild Harvest here in Yellowknife. Welcome.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pride today to recognize my sister Betty Hardisty, who's up there in the gallery and in town on business from Fort Simpson.

---Applause

As well, I'd like to recognize my Yellowknife constituency assistant, Mr. Philip Moon Son, his wife, Katherine, his daughter Chloe, and also a big welcome to Phil's mother, a visitor from Toronto, Lucy Son.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just also wanted to recognize a number of people that have been recognized already. First of all, Nolene Villebrun, Dene Nation grand chief; also, Betty Hardisty from the Deh Cho; and Rocky Simpson, who has a company located on the Hay River Reserve and is in the well-site rental business, and he tells me that he's recently entered the trailer manufacturing business, and will have a trailer rolling off the assembly lines shortly. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know these people have been recognized already, but I'd like to make a special mention of Mr. Phil Son and his wife, Katherine, and his mother, Lucy Son, visiting from Toronto. They're Korean Canadians, and we share that in common. I'd like to welcome Mrs. Son into the North. I'd also like to recognize Karen Hollett, who makes great syrup out of local berries. She owns Arctic Wild Harvest. I'd like to welcome her to the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery today, I'd like to welcome everybody to the Assembly today. It's always nice to have an audience up there viewing our proceedings. So welcome. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for Mr. Dent. In reviewing all the questions and answers yesterday, with regard to this day care issue, Mr. Speaker, this is not about Fort Smith day care, so the Member for Thebacha doesn't have to worry about that aspect of it. This is a day care issue for all of the Northwest Territories.

This is just the latest day care closing, and I think that we have to draw the line here and make the Minister account for the inadequacy in the program and doing something about it. So far, the Minister is indicating there is nothing he can do about this, it's all got to be a budget process, we need extra money, blah, blah, blah. I mean, any robot could say that, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to know what he has in plan for dozens of mothers of children in school who are not going to have day care service after this Friday. Is he aware of any places where they're going to be able to go to? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The college has been working with students to help them find appropriate care for their children, and they will continue to do that. I understand that they've found appropriate placements for a number of students, and they will continue to work with those who haven't yet found replacement places.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't know what the detail is, but, obviously, the Minister and the Cabinet have decided that they're not going to help with keeping this place open. Aurora College sent a letter telling them to get out on October 28th, even though the lease is in place. The college has taken steps to look for alternatives. If there's any new day care that's going to replace this, they're going to need operating funding and contribution funding and such. So why is it that the Minister is insisting on letting this program go and start the whole thing all over again? Why is the Minister not willing to help what's there?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm troubled by the allegations the Member is making about the approach the college has taken. Yesterday, the Member asked if I would review the letters that were sent by the college, and by the deputy minister, and I can assure you, Mr. Speaker, that I have; and I find in no way does the college letter sound in any way threatening or make any threats to the operator. What it is doing is responding to a press release that was put out by the operator that said they would be closing on October 28th. They note that since you will be closing on October 28th, the staff would require all keys to the facility from you on that day. That's a normal course of business. They just want to know that the space is secure, since it's in a college building. This has nothing to do with a threat or saying you've got to get out of here. The letter is just a simple issue of saying if you're going to be shutting down, then it's time to turn over the keys at the time that you shut down. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I don't believe I suggested that it was threatening, but it certainly is seeing the scenario as these people having to move out, and not giving any due consideration to the possibility of the Minister doing anything to help them. So it's all predetermined. That's my point. My point with the e-mail that I got is that it seems that nothing that we do here matters. I don't accept that. I do believe that there is a merit in asking questions and trying to help facilities. So I'd like to ask the Minister why he insists on closing this day care when he is going to be required to provide said money to any other facilities that open there. Why is he not helping day cares to operate and exist? What is the reason? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.