Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand here before you today in strong support of the motion that we have before the House. As I mentioned in my Member’s statement and also with the motion here, we need to send a very strong and meaningful message not just to the government here but to all those watching, all those departments out there who are collaborating to make sure that this is a high priority. The Assembly here has made that a priority. We are hoping that we are doing the same.
As mentioned earlier, in zero to three is really the target and focus of what we are trying to get across
and that requires a lot of paradigm shift in thinking. That also requires changes in our behaviour. That requires changes in what we have before us. What we have before us is a 10-year-old document. Things have changed. Technology has changed. Science has changed.
As the Minister mentioned earlier, there is lots at our disposal that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that we are actually in the wrong part of our budget dealing with the wrong part of this equation. We need to move that issue over, along with new money.
As I mentioned, without this new money and as we’re seeing, as the Member for Frame Lake alluded, we’ll be negotiating and debating our budget for ECE later and it’s very, very displeasing to see that all these new initiatives and all this desire and bravado towards change shows no new money. I have grave concerns with that and I’m sure it will be debated later on in the House.
Our children need that support. We need this new money. We need new initiatives within the budget to help us push that first domino. That first domino creates a cascade. Anyone who’s seen dominoes move one behind the other will see beyond a reasonable doubt that that cascade is very evident. We need to push that first domino, and that starts with a proper budget and that starts with a proper desire.
In essence, that old cliché that we need to put a little hustle behind the muscle is never more evident as we see here today. I ask that from the Minister and I ask that from the department and I will speak in favour of this motion.