Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I support the motion that’s before us today for many of the reasons that have been articulated by my colleagues Mr. Bromley and Mr. Abernethy.

I, too, would just like to mention a few of the benefits of a strong respite care service in our community: integrated availability back into the community, social skills, relationship building, positive learning experiences, resiliency, helping families stay strong.

Mr. Speaker, a stated goal of this government is strong, vibrant communities. Mr. Speaker, respite care services are an integral part of us having strong, healthy communities.

Mr. Speaker, we didn’t get a chance to communicate with the Minister on the funding cut to the respite care program and, Mr. Speaker, that’s a real shame. It’s a shame that we had to find out via alternative means; like I mentioned earlier, my constituency meeting. That’s not how things should work, Mr. Speaker. Things should work much more cohesively than that. We should be able to have a dialogue with the Minister and with the government when it comes to proposed funding cuts. We shouldn’t have to learn at a constituency meeting, especially a service like the respite care program that is the target of a reduction.

Mr. Speaker, that’s just not on with me. It does give the impression that decision-makers do not care about the program. I find it unfathomable that the government could not come up with a plan to deliver respite care service in the Northwest Territories prior to deciding to spend the $250,000 somewhere else without even telling us. That’s a shame, Mr. Speaker.

Again, this motion points us back in the right direction and hopefully we can start a new, better era of communications with the Minister on how we move this forward. I certainly, Mr. Speaker, want to work with my colleagues on this side of the House and the Minister and the government on making positive change in people’s life, and I think respite care services and the respite care program certainly lead us in that direction.

I want to thank the mover of the motion and the seconder for bringing that forward today. And all the families and folks that were in the audience today, thank you very much for your support. Thank you.