Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As a follow-up to my Member’s statement earlier today, I question the current effectiveness of the secretive program review office that now reports to the office of the executive. Many have questioned as to what this office has been up to for the past couple of years and many think it’s time that we take a real critical look at its structure, mandate and accountability for the Members of this House and for the residents it services. My questions today are for the Premier.

It has been over one year since Regular Members have heard back from the Premier’s office as to...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The program review office of the GNWT was established in 2008-2009 for the executive branch of the day to undertake a number of targeted programs and reviews. Its role was to clarify and confirm mandates, determine program effectiveness and recommend modifications such as the elimination, reduction and service improvements. Now, I’m sure when the concept of this office of the executive was cleverly conceived, it had all the poise and promise of the day. Who wouldn’t want their own private army of ombudsmen working feverishly to support your strategic initiatives? It...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the recent announcement by the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the future investment and rollout of the publicly funded junior kindergarten plan, it begs to ask what is to become of well-established private daycare facilities or, in some cases, societies such as Montessori that provide similar programming? Today my questions will be for the Minister of ECE.

Has the Minister or his staff entered into any formal dialogue with owners of private daycare facilities or providers of similar competing programs to the publicly funded junior kindergarten...

Before we rise and report progress I would like to thank our guest today, Ms. Bassi-Kellet, for joining us today. If I could get the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort our witnesses out of the Chamber.

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Ms. Bassi-Kellett.

Thank you, Ms. Bassi-Kellett. Moving on with general comments, I have Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. With that we’ll go to Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The purpose of my questions today are to create ladders of opportunity for our private daycare facilities and our private providers such as Montessori, and I’m hoping that the Minister can commit to when he will begin these formal discussions, these formal offerings with these private facilities so they can voice their concern. When will this start to occur? Thank you.

It’s comforting to know that the Minister is indicating that we’re going to be talking to some of these partners in due course here, but has the Minister or his staff designed any formal programming and partnering with this junior kindergarten plan with these established daycares and providers of similar programs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday we were witness to the 2014-15 federal budget called, “Economic Action Plan 2014: The Road to Balance,” creating jobs and opportunities. I’d like to take a minute to echo some of the NWT highlights and wish a very heartfelt thank you to the federal counterparts for investments in mine training, economic diversification, transportation, health services and reducing medical travel and Nutrition North, just to name a few.

By the federal government reconfirming and starting new initiatives in the NWT, it once again reaffirms their commitments to us at the success...