Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been brought to my attention by several constituents that the implementation of junior kindergarten has left more than a few gaps.

These concerns were brought to me by parents and northern teachers who are concerned with the implications of several of the shortfalls of the junior kindergarten program. Currently, there is still no provision for signing-in and signing-out of children. So far, we have been lucky, but I am curious as to why, when I pick my own son up from his privately run after-school program, I must sign him out, while there is no provision for this in government-mandated junior kindergarten.

It has also been brought to my attention that there is only "recommended" health screening for students entering into JK. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure this is on the minds of many parents in recent days, due to the confirmed case of the measles here in the NWT. I am alarmed, as are many, that health screening, that is to say testing on hearing, vision and immunizations, are not required prior to entry into the junior kindergarten program. This could put our children, our families, and our communities at great risk of the possibility of outbreak.

Mr. Speaker, adult to child ratios are high under the Day Care Act. Yes, this was done to minimize the increased costs of implementing the JK program, but where once there was a ratio of either 1:8 or 1:9, there is now an allowance of a ratio of 1:25. This has left staff stretched too thin. Bathroom breaks, recess, fire drills, evacuations, all of these test the limits of teaching staff's focus. Under the current process, there are gaps in the supervision of children. This often requires that administrative staff fill these gaps should a child need to go to the bathroom while the rest of the students are suiting up or dressing down for recess, let alone if one of the children has an accident. If all goes to plan and no child needs to use the bathroom or there are no other complicating factors, getting ready to go outside for recess can be a 30-40 minute endeavour.

The implementation of junior kindergarten received a lot of attention earlier in this Assembly. Though we have moved to other pressing matters, it is clear that this area continues to demand our attention as these problems must be resolved to ensure the future success of students and teachers alike. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister later today.