Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my questions on the Fort Good Hope arena status. The community of the Dene organization is leading the project and actively working on it. The Department of MACA has assisted where possible, including funding and developing the scope of work and estimated costs to have this building and facility completed. Can the Minister provide an operational update on the progress of this facility and the construction scheduling? Thank you.

Member from the Sahtu. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When it comes down to the local governments, they are the lead on such projects with the support of MACA to get through the projects and assistance and guidance. Ultimately, the local community government is responsible for the projects and completing them. Thank you.

Are you done, Minister? Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Member from the Sahtu.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for the response here. One of the issues that are really lacking in the smaller communities is trades and skills. Will the Minister promise to recruit and supply a project manager for this project through the community local government? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated the responsibility of the project lies with the community government; however, I will commit that the department will continue to work with the community government to try to assist them in that project as we already have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that reply here. On the continuation of my question, my last one, is that will the Minister provide a report on a spreadsheet format on the schedule for renovations in this project so I can have something to share with my constituent community? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will reach to my department and see what we can do. I know, like I said earlier, the local government is lead on the project, so we'll see what we can do for the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. So the other day in the House I spoke to the fact that in the past the government has had to step in when non-profits collapse and they're providing essential social services. So if the largest non-profit daycares in our regional centres are forced to shut down because they're no longer financially viable, is the government prepared to take over the operation of these daycares? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, the GNWT does not intend to take over operation of licensed programs and nor do I think it's really needed at this point. ECE is committed to providing sustainable funding, and I am committed to the relationship with child care providers and finding out what it is that they need and how we can support one another. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for making that clear. So can the Minister recommend ways that child care providers can successfully attract and retain staff given that the government's proposed wage grid is well below salaries for comparable positions in early learning in NWT communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So given that three large child care providers are considering opting out of the funding formula, does the Minister have concerns that this could leave us with a segregated system where some parents are forced to pay much more than they currently do? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that I'm definitely concerned, which is why I'm putting effort into creating a relationship and sustaining a relationship with the NWT Early Childhood Association. I really want to make sure that we're hearing their concerns, that we are doing our best to respond to them within the budget that we do have. And we do have a fixed budget within this program. ECE is a major funding source for licensed programs. So I really hope that we can keep everybody together and working together in order to rebuild -- or to build a robust system because I think that at the end of the day, we are stronger working together and that we do share common goals, and I think that's really important. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So thank you, Mr. Speaker. So given that fixed amount that the Minister referred to, will the Minister commit to including the NWT Early Childhood Association or child care providers in any future negotiations with the federal government about child care funding agreements? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our funding agreements are agreements that are reflective of what generally other jurisdictions are also receiving. They're an agreement that happened between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada. I think that communicating those agreements, once they are set, is really important which is why I really want to continue to work with all stakeholders in this sector, and I'm absolutely committed to those relationships. And I'm also committed to ensuring that our childhood -- or child care sector is sustainable because I truly believe that we as an Assembly have set this as a priority in that it -- building a strong economic foundation is absolutely reliant on child care, and so I'm committed to seeing this be successful. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the severe shortcoming of the government's response to the 2023 wildfire crisis and evacuation, my question probably would be more to the Minister of environment is going to the next 2024 fire season, in my riding of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh last year, we had issues with food securities and supply chain, and we also had issues with the airlines couldn't fly into Lutselk'e. My question to the Minister would be what are they doing this -- in the 2024 fire season to help correct these problems? Thank you.

Mr. Premier.

I'd like to redirect that to the Minister of MACA. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we're all aware that there was a lot of several unintended supply chain issues that we had last year in regards to the evacuations, you know, due to the Yellowknife airport being closed and other airports and other infrastructure like roads being closed. All the departments are working -- have worked together to understand these issues, and we're continually working to improve what happened. The Department of ITI has provided their information to the Department of MACA, and we'll be looking at those. Thank you.