Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Once again, I cannot be supporting a motion that’s including additional dollars to the budget. I know the mover of the motion originally said in the motion to reallocate, but it also says an additional $2 million, so I can’t support the motion with that. We’ve got a bigger fight coming ahead of us. We’ve still got a $30 million reduction in the next fiscal year. All Members are aware that because of the late new information on deductions and taxes that we were going with the printed budget as we speak, and that further reductions will be coming next year. My experience has been that even if they add another $2 million, that’s actually a $4 million loss of potential programs and services that will be rolling out to the regions and communities. With that, I can’t support that.
The line item early childhood development already has in excess of $8 million in it already. I know that Members on this side want to speed up the Early Childhood Strategy but all things come in time. You have to take a slow, progressive pace at it. Once again, I’m still not convinced by us giving the government $2 million that it will be spent the way that we want it to be spent.
So with that, once again, I can’t be supporting this motion. I do support early childhood development, I do support the strategy that was put forth and I’ll continue to support that strategy as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.