Bob Bromley

Very well. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Next on the list is Mr. Krutko.

---Interjection

Again, I appreciate the Minister’s remarks. I referred earlier today to the scientific information on how the building blocks of language development are laid even before birth and are best developed before the age of three. This government devotes a lot of energy to preserving and promoting Aboriginal language, and rightly so. The science shows our best prospect of success isn't in the formal school system. They begin when the child is still in the womb.

Again, how do recommendations in the Aboriginal Student Achievement report reflect these understandings? In other words, what actions? Can...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions follow up on my Member’s statement and are directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I’m sure the Minister is aware of the critical importance of early childhood development and I want to explore how this has been recognized in the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative review.

The early childhood development research I’ve cited comes from a presentation to the Canadian Council of Ministers of Education by world renowned early childhood expert Dr. Fraser Mustard. I’ve recommended Dr. Mustard’s work and even his participation in the...

I guess my one complaint is that we’ve had two years of expenditures and I heard absolutely nothing back on what those things were spent on and the results of the research and development. So I’d like to just register that complaint with the Minister and have him work with his colleagues to remedy that, hopefully on a routine basis.

My concern about this funding, of course, is that given the climate change ultimately involves everything, it would be very easy for these dollars to be spent on other things and claim to be spent on climate change. I consider the list we’ve heard to include one or...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

My understanding is we will be using about $700,000-and-some in the remainder in this fiscal year. I just want to be sure that that’s correct and ask what the expenditures were from this $1.85 million in the previous two fiscal years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I had raised concerns about people who avail themselves of payday loans who are ending up getting charged more than is legally correct for loans, and it was discovered sort of incidentally through associated court cases. This legislation came forward and I am happy to see that it does profile that and address it in the Northwest Territories.

I think especially payday loan-type companies can, through various fees and charges, interest rate applications, end up overcharging people accessing these lendings. Typically, a lot of these people will not have the skills or the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure reported yesterday on Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act, and Bill 19, Cost of Credit Disclosure Act.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act, and Bill 19, Cost of Credit Disclosure Act, be moved into Committee of the Whole for today.

Thanks to the Minister. I appreciate that action. I would ask the Minister, in recognition that he’s attempted to have conversations, will the Minister commit to me now that before the end of this government he will write to the federal Minister both to inform him of our diligent actions and to formally request that the DIAND regional office begin a program of prosecution and enforcement to clear and prevent squatting on federal Crown lands, lands that we may soon be responsible for? Thank you.