Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll be quick. We’ve heard an awful lot today about the value of respite services. These services offer the families an opportunity to care for their children, and rest, and get their children socialized into society.

I attended a Yellowknife Association for Community Living meeting shortly after it came down that the program in Yellowknife had been cancelled. I was pleased at that meeting that I had the opportunity to listen to a young man with autism stand up and speak about how valuable this program is to him. At that time, he stood up and said respite workers helped him to socialize. They helped teach him social skills. They helped teach him how to build relationships. They go on visits in the community with him. They get him out into the community and provide opportunities in the community.

Not having respite would mean this individual would not learn these important skills, Mr. Speaker. He indicated that he would have a lonely life without respite.

I’ve talked with other individuals who have children with intellectual challenges. One family told me that they can’t understand why some people are even thinking about removing this funding, especially when it’s working to include their children into society. Losing this program tells them that the people around them, that society is turning their backs on these families and their children. They are concerned that they might have to go on anti-depressants. They are concerned that their children will have to go into the hospital. They are concerned that they will have to use other aspects of the system, which will ultimately cost the entire system more money.

This is a cheaper way of providing support, important support to these families. I think it’s incredibly important that the department stand up, find the $250,000 for the Yellowknife program but also, as promised in Foundation for Change, find ways to provide greater levels of respite service to persons with intellectual challenge in the communities throughout the Northwest Territories. That’s what this motion talks to. Don’t cut what we already have and find ways to support those programs in the communities. Frankly, I’m concerned that if we are willing to cut such a fantastic proven program in Yellowknife, the next step is to cut respite services in the communities.

So let’s not make that mistake, let’s get it right, let’s find the funding, let’s make sure that we continue to provide respite to those citizens in the Northwest Territories who need it.

I will, of course, be supporting the motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.