Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too of course am in support of this motion, as I second it. Mr. Speaker, there's growing concerns in the community of Fort McPherson; it has been for the last couple of years with the roll out of junior kindergarten. One thing for sure is the effect it will have on the Aboriginal Head Start program. As I mentioned earlier, we have three young ladies that recently received their certificates in early childhood development, and, Mr. Speaker, now as they start their career here they've been put in a three-month contract, whereas before it's never been like this. So already there's some implications as we move forward.
I could see the importance of junior kindergarten, but, as I've always said from the beginning we have to fund it adequately; right now there's no added funds. We're taking on a whole new grade here and yet no funding to go with it.
Mr. Speaker, last year was the first year in Fort McPherson, for example, I've received concerns from the spouse of one of the teachers that was looking after junior kindergarten and they basically said: look, my wife did not sign up to be changing Pampers. That's the case, Mr. Speaker. We have up to three-year-olds that do qualify for junior kindergarten because they turn four within the first couple of months, and that was one of the big concerns we had last year.
Another thing too is we've had 20 years of Aboriginal Head Start in Fort McPherson; a program that was -- you, yourself, Mr. Speaker, when you were in your role as Education Minister, I recall the praise that they've received in Fort McPherson for the programming that they offered in the community, Mr. Speaker, and here we are. I realize the previous federal government was looking to possibly cut Aboriginal Head Start, but we do now have a new government in order here and we are yet to see if they will still provide funding for Aboriginal Head Start, which we are hopeful.
Mr. Speaker, as we move forward it's very important that we provide the necessary tools to move forward for the sake of our four-year-olds, Mr. Speaker. I know it is a huge challenge in our communities, for example, Tsiigehtchic where we have no daycare; you know, that's our junior kindergarten. We have many other communities like this. Yet in Fort McPherson and Aklavik they both have Aboriginal Head Start that is successful. So why are we going to interfere with something that's already working? Mr. Speaker, that is why I am in support of this motion. Mahsi.