Mr. Speaker, I have a motion.

WHEREAS our children are our future and the way we treat them will have impacts that will be felt for generations;

AND WHEREAS the literature on early childhood education demonstrates that the success of junior kindergarten depends upon the requirement that high quality programs be delivered by fully trained early childhood education workers;

AND WHEREAS Kerry McCuaig of the Atkinson Institute and junior kindergarten implementation consultant to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has written that the requirement for high quality programming through fully trained early childhood education workers is non-negotiable;

AND WHEREAS research also shows that low quality programming can have a detrimental effect and actually delay the full and healthy development of our children;

AND WHEREAS the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is proposing implementation of junior kindergarten in small communities using elementary school teachers while encouraging them to take course work in early childhood education;

AND WHEREAS early childhood education workers are professionals that should be paid the same as wages as our teachers;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment be required to ensure that there is at least one fully trained early childhood education worker for every junior kindergarten group before the program is implemented;

AND FURTHER, that early childhood education workers be recognized as education professionals and paid wages accordingly;

AND FURTHER, that Aurora College immediately implement a training program that graduates fully qualified early childhood education workers who meet federal standards;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 90 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.