This is page numbers 39 - 64 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 1st 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 agreement.

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Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Minister of Justice

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our detachment with the Justice department have been working closely with Sachs Harbour and along with the other two communities that we’ve been focusing on, Gameti and also Wrigley. With respect to Sachs Harbour, the proposed plan is to have the detachment in place. The money has been allocated and the detachment itself, we’re still waiting on the federal government on their part of the share of 30 percent, because we, as GNWT, pay 70 percent towards the cost of the facility. Our government has committed our contribution towards the RCMP in the community. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister fill me in: Is the federal government behind this process of the RCMP, sir?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our department has been working with the federal counterparts on this particular issue with the Sachs community, and also with the other two proposals. Yes, they have committed; they have set timelines for the three communities. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister would get me a copy of that so I could forward it to my people in Sachs Harbour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we’ll certainly provide as much information as we can to the Member. Just so the Member is aware, I have been working with my department as well and we will be visiting his community, his riding, so there will be more ongoing discussion on this matter. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary, Mr. Jacobson. Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment this afternoon. In my statement today I spoke about the challenges working families have and are faced with day to day with trying to find competent, affordable, quality childcare. Mr. Speaker, we only have about 1,200 childcare spaces in the NWT and families are not able to afford them. I’d like to know what the Minister is doing, if he’s aware of this problem, and what initiatives is he taking on to follow up and deal with this problem of childcare spaces and affordability of those spaces. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the childcare issue is very important for our department and also the Government of the Northwest Territories. We are recognizing that there is a need in the communities. There are plans in place. There is consultation that will be taking place with the day care facilities identifying concerns, issues and the gaps, and also what the main issues are with respect to what the Member is requesting. We have our childcare consultant in place who is dealing with the department and also the consultation process. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s time for an independent review of the situation. We have the affordability in the sense that parents can’t afford to pay for day care, we have the affordability sense…

---Interjection

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Yes, I do. Mr. Speaker, we have the affordability sense from the day cares of being able to have stable funding. So would the Minister be able to initiate a review to look into this problem to make sure funding is stable for these organizations and that parents can afford this? Will he look into this and create a review of this current state that we’re having? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, there is consultation that will take place with the day care facilities. With that, the outcome will be what’s needed and what’s demanding at the facilities. So we will be looking into that as a department with all the

day care facilities in the Northwest Territories. So Yellowknife will be included in that, as well. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister says there will be a consultation. I’d like to know what “will” means and who it’s run by and what’s the mandate being provided to whoever that “will” is in this particular case that’s doing this review. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, ECE is spearheading this with a childcare consultant that we have in place. They will be working with the parents and also the facility, and that information will be shared with our colleagues, Social Programs especially, because any changes that comes to this House, there’s always consultation that takes place with the Members, as well. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister be willing to share the proposal that this person has for marching orders to find out what the issues are, as well as when does he expect this report to be finalized and presented to the House or to committee? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.