Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The committee is very appreciative of the role that foster parents play in ensuring that children can grow and prosper in a caring environment. Enough cannot be said about the people that are willing to take children into their homes on a moment's notice. They are a vital part in the delivery of social services in the Northwest Territories and need to be recognized and supported as such.

Part of Supplementary Appropriation No. 1, 2007-2008 is $1.011 million for increases to the basic maintenance rate and to increase the age of child rate. This will result in increases of up to $18 per day in some communities for the basic maintenance rate, and for the age of child amount $4 for children up to the age of five, $3 for children up to the age of 12 and $5 for children up to the age of 18.

These increases recognize the cost of living in our communities and also recognize the different costs associated with children of different ages.

The committee is sure that these increases will help cover the costs for existing foster families and possibly encourage some families who could not afford to continue at the existing rates.

It is not clear that there will be any effect on the number of foster homes in the NWT.

Recommendation

The committee recommends the department work towards increasing the number of foster homes in the NWT and that a plan, complete with numbers of existing foster homes, targeted increases and required resources be presented to the Standing Committee on Social Programs as part of the 2009-2010 business plans.

Conclusion

Mr. Speaker, the committee would like to thank all those who spoke at our hearings and raised their concerns with the application of the Child and Family Services Act. We look forward to the government's response to this report.

Recommendation

The Standing Committee on Social Programs recommends the government provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I'd like to pass it back to the chair of our committee and the Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That concludes the Report of the Standing Committee on Social Programs on Matters Related to the Child and Family Services Act. Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that Committee Report 3-15(6), be received and moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 3-15(6) be moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 3-15(6) moved into Committee of the Whole today. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Committee Report 3-15(6) will be moved into Committee of the Whole for today. Reports of standing and special committees. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Colleagues, I would like to bring your attention to the gallery. Visiting us today is Ms. Phila Fyten. She's the newly appointed assistant to the Commissioner, Mr. Anthony Whitford. Welcome to the Assembly.

---Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our colleague Mr. Braden is the chair of the AFS Interculture Program here in Yellowknife, and he has today invited a number of participants in that program to visit us in the Legislative Assembly. These are students who are visiting from other countries and attending school at Sir John Franklin. Mr. Speaker, the resident from Frame Lake who is here today -- at least temporarily from Frame Lake, he's actually from Denmark -- is Mr. Emil Madsen. He's hosted by Peter and Jenni Bannon.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's not too often I get to recognize my constituency assistant, so I'd just like to take this time to recognize Sue-Ellen Wilson from Fort McPherson, who is my constituency assistant who has been here this week chaperoning the Pages. I'd also like to recognize a former constituent from Tsiigehtchic, Ms. Norwegian. She's just back from her studies in Winnipeg in regards to aboriginal self-government, so I'd like to welcome her back to Yellowknife.

---Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple of people to recognize. The first one I'd like to recognize is Ms. Phila Fyten. She's a very involved constituent in our community. I, too, wish to acknowledge the AFS student living in the riding with Sue and Norm Glowach, and the young lady's name is Letizia Foracchia. I hope that's close enough. She's staying with Norm and Sue Glowach, who are a generous family, well-known for taking in many adventurous students through the AFS Program. So thank you to them and welcome.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's always a pleasure to recognize our former Speaker from Fort Providence, Sam Gargan, and also a former resident of Fort Providence who got swept off her feet downstream and ended up in Tulita, Cheryl Yakeleya. I'd like to welcome them both, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Pages from Hay River South who have been serving in the Legislature this week: J.J. McKinney and Joseph Lirette. Also in the visitor's gallery today, Mr. Tom Lakusta and his son, Adam, and again my constituency assistant, Wendy Morgan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize two of the Pages from Norman Wells that are here to join us: Joel Erb and Kacee Hunter. They are both from Norman Wells Mackenzie Mountain School, and they did a fine job of looking after us.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also want to recognize the love of my life. I love you, hon, and she certainly swept me off my feet from the Deh Cho, because there was no bridge.

---Laughter

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I appreciate the acknowledgement of my colleagues in the involvement that I have been very pleased to have with this exchange student. So it is certainly a pleasure to recognize Mr. Emil Madsen, Miss Letizia Foracchia and Miss Hiu Ying Lau. I would also like to recognize a resident of my constituency, at least on a temporary basis, Miss Jessica Monnaie, who is from Belgium, not an official exchange student but very much one of our community. She is staying with her aunt, Ms. Nancy Trotter. Of course, Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not recognize another constituent and a very loyal companion of mine, my constituency assistant, Mr. John Argue.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. It is always nice to have an audience. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. Acknowledgements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mary Heron, a respected elder of the Salt River First Nations and a constituent who I have known since I was but a wee lad, has recently reached the important milestone of 80 years.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, this important accomplishment and milestone will be celebrated this Sunday out at Fort Fitzgerald by family and friends. I would like to extend my congratulations to her and her family and wish Mary many more years of good health and happiness. Thank you.

---Applause