Mr. Speaker, the early years, from birth to age five, are among the most critical for a child's development. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment recognizes the need to support safe and high-quality early learning environments for children to grow into healthy adults and fulfill their potential as capable people.
We know that parents and caregivers have the greatest responsibility and influence on their children's development. An effective and integrated early childhood system that provides the necessary services, supports, and resources to families with young children is essential to ensure that our children have the best support possible to help them succeed.
Accessible and affordable early childhood services in every community are a critical part of the department's mandate and necessary to support working caregivers. We have been enhancing our programs, services, interactions, and support for early childcare operators and working with communities to ensure that there are options available for families.
As all families with four- and five-year-old children now have the option to access early learning programming within their local schools, there is now a focus on childcare for children from birth to three years old. We know the level of childcare required across the territory varies from year to year depending on birth rate, employment status, and the needs and preferences of families. Understanding unique community needs for childcare is an important factor for developing approaches across the territory; a one-size-fits-all approach will not serve our families or our communities.
Mr. Speaker, the Supporting Access to Childcare Action Plan provides a vision for accessible childcare in the Northwest Territories and outlines a phased-in approach to making childcare more accessible and affordable for families throughout the Northwest Territories. I will be tabling this document later today.
As Members of this House know, the department received funding through a bilateral agreement under the 2017 federal Early Learning and Childcare initiative. Our new plan expands upon the right from the start early childhood framework and action plan. It provides an overview of six key elements, with goals and actions that contribute to accessible early learning and childcare in the NWT. The plan highlights current work and provides additional actions specifically related to infrastructure and affordability.
Mr. Speaker, in spite of efforts to increase the number of communities with licensed early childcare programs, there remains 11 communities without them. We are currently working with the communities of Colville Lake, Detah, Enterprise, Jean Marie River, Kakisa, Lutselk'e, Nahanni Butte, Norman Wells, Sambaa K'e, Wrigley, and Tsiigehtchic to determine their needs and what the community can support. For some, sustainable early childhood programming may take the form of parent and child drop-in opportunities or support groups; and for others, there may be a need for and interest in opening licensed early childhood centres or family day homes. We have invited representatives from each of these communities to the early childhood symposium happening August 21st to 23rd to discuss their specific needs and how we may help. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Minister's statement.
---Unanimous consent granted