I was offering to read the Minister’s briefing note out that explains that, if he would like me to.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Is there a question there, Mr. Bromley?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I was asking why the 300 iPads that were purchased were not distributed, if they weren’t. That was my question. I have other questions.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The information we have says that ECE has procured 300 iPad minis from the local businesses and is now testing the best process for loading the information onto tablets.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Bromley.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don’t seem to be getting a full understanding here. I understand that the department called for sponsorship in purchase of iPads in 2013 through a public call for that. Why was that done and what was the response?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. When we first initiated these tablets for new mothers, we figured that we wouldn’t have enough funding to go out to all the new moms and 300

tablets that we’re talking about, it could go beyond that. So we were seeking an alternative source of funding. We’ve had that in the past with other projects that have been very successful, accessing other sources of funding. Those are some of the areas that we have reached out to.

As Minister Miltenberger stated, these tablets are before us. They are still being tested. We have all of these different programs that need to be installed. Those are some of the delays that we have encountered. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks for that response. I’m wondering: in the sponsorships, is there a requirement for branding of the iPads?

Sorry, Mr. Bromley. Can you repeat the last part there?

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m wondering: is there a requirement through these sponsorships for a branding of these iPads, a strict branding that will go along with the iPads into the homes of our youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Those are the logistics that still need to be worked out. With any sponsors, obviously, they want their logo. We are currently in discussion with the industry on the particular matter, but at the end of the day, the important part is we are giving tablets to new mothers, expectant mothers and all kinds of programs that will be beneficial to the family. That is what we’re doing at this point. There are a lot of discussions that are happening. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister’s information. Basically I have two concerns here that I would like to address. The first is the use of iPads for early childhood development and putting them into the homes of our smallest and youngest and most vulnerable minds and the almost certain use of those iPads by these wee children, and the second is the effective branding on these children who will certainly be accessing these pieces of equipment in contrast to what we know is a very effective way to communicate with families on a personalized basis.

First, just to the impacts of screen time on children, which undoubtedly will be the ones using these iPads the most, I would like to note that there are clear effects which have been demonstrated. Excessive screen time on children include obesity, sleep deprivation, irregular sleep, aggression,

behavioural problems, impaired academic performance, less time for play, greater risk of hypertension, asthma, addictions, poor mental health, problems with body image, desensitization and consumerism. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under two actually have no screen time for babies and toddlers.

Young children, it is demonstrated, learn best by relating to real, live people and by moving and doing, and therein lies a very important point on how we can deliver these programs in effective ways.

In terms of branding, the University of Alberta study on partnerships between oil multinational corporations and the Alberta government shows that such partnerships undermine the basic tenets of education, obstruct access to information and limit critical thinking. I don’t think there’s any question that all of us would like to see every citizen in the Northwest Territories reach their full human potential, and this is being limited by this approach.

There’s new research that shows that a brand experienced from birth is more quickly recognized by students than a brand encountered at age five and older. So these are quite insidious effects or not if the product is a good product and so on. Studies show that branding and corporatization in education and health, for example, by large oil companies, programs delivered undermine or even demonize concern for the land and traditional knowledge values in favour of technology and fossil fuel and artificial values in order to conscript, of course, lifelong consumers.

These are extremely important considerations and they contrast with, you know, the opportunity to deliver programs, again on a personal basis, within the homes of families.

Mr. Chair, I realize I’m running out of time here. I’m happy to carry on after others have had an opportunity to comment here, but I do have a couple more questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe the Minister of Education would like to respond. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. The tablets that we’re talking about are not only for the children, it’s for the parents as well. Mostly for the parents where the families can keep track of their children’s developmental milestones providing immunization and nutrition information. There is all this different programming that’s on these tablets that are going out. There’s First Aid, as well, and

language apps and different apps for children’s songs, books, learning, fun activities to enjoy as a family. The tablets also encourage the relationship between community-based health care and our education providers with new parents, so together they can explore the early childhood development apps that are out there. There are all these different apps and the resources, which are on electronic tablets.

This is an area that’s not new. We’ve been exploring this area for quite some time now through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative and engagement of the general public. It’s the grandparents who spoke to us to say, provide some resource material to these new parents so they can work with their young ones. It’s a whole learning curve for them.

We’ve experienced the brand names the Member is referring to. De Beers is a prime example. Books in Homes has been very successful to date. They have provided thousands and hundreds of thousands of books into the Northwest Territories communities, and they continue to do so, educational materials. I don’t see any issues with that.

So these tablets going out to the parents, we should be supporting that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Next on my list I have Ms. Bisaro, then Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have some questions, as well, around this particular item.

My first question to the Finance Minister or to the Minister of Education – I don’t know who would want to answer this – if we are accepting money from corporations and they are assisting us to buy the materials that we need to put programs in place, I’d like to know whether or not that is being done within a corporate sponsorship policy of the GNWT.

Is there a policy that we are following when we make these purchases with money from a corporate sponsor, or this is something… The Minister of Education mentioned that this is something that has been talked about for quite a while. It hasn’t been talked about with Regular Members, so I have no knowledge of whether there are parameters around the dealings that the department is doing with this corporate sponsor or whether we actually have a policy that’s being followed. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Miltenberger.