Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Certainly I appreciate the Member’s comment on this area. This is one of the priorities within our government, within our own department as well. Early childhood and the daycare facilities, the daycare funding is a priority for us. We do provide ongoing funding. We have increased our funding as well. Back in 2007 we increased our contribution to licensed, non-profit, early childhood providers by 30 percent. So through investment of $600,000. Also, 2007-2008 we included funding to assist eligible providers with basic rent or mortgage expenses. So the subsidy can contribute a...

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think on a long-term basis we’d like to have this on a mandatory basis. I did mention in my Minister’s statement that other jurisdictions do provide it on a mandatory basis. We’ll continue to work towards that. This is a new program we want to initiate. We’d certainly like to look at the pros and cons of the particular program, but that’s a long-term commitment that we have within our Justice department.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 12, Securities Transfer Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill enacts a uniform Securities Transfer Act to govern the transfer and holdings of securities and the interests in securities consistent with legislation currently enacted or being enacted in all provinces and territories. The bill provides for consequential amendments to the Business Corporation Act, Personal Property Security Act and Seizures Act. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

As the Minister responsible for Justice, I continue to work with the standing committee and I certainly don’t want to run with the legislation without consultation with the standing committee. As a commitment from my perspective portfolios and also this government, we need to consult with the standing committee. I will continue to do so. I’m making a commitment to work with the standing committee on a moving-forward basis.

We do have dedicated staff within the department that we have specifically for early childhood. Dealing with the daycares, whether they meet the funding criteria that’s based on, the contribution agreement, we need to relook at the whole mechanism for a number of past years and where we are today. How can we move forward on how we can improve in those areas? Certainly we don’t want to see any disruption in the operation of a daycare establishment in the Northwest Territories. We will continue to discuss the various models that we can certainly deliver. We’ll do that and provide that...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The rent control is a separate issue that we’re currently talking about here. That area will definitely have, whether it be positive or negative, impacts. We realize that other jurisdictions do have rent control and we have reviewed that. We have investigated that. There are pros and cons. We can certainly share that with the standing committee if we need to move in that direction. The local contractors may not be able to build units if they can’t control the rent. So those are the areas that we seriously looked at. We continue to do more research in that area.

With respect...

I did highlight the additional funding that’s included to provide for base rent and mortgage expenses. That’s new programming dollars that we’ve offered to the daycare establishments. I would reiterate that we are continuing to work with FMB to work with NGOs in the communities because we need to continue working with them in this respect. The Member has talked about similar funding or contributions we provide to the schools based on enrolment. Those are the types of discussions that we’re having currently with FMB. Although it’s taken some time, we want to have a good model that we can...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Member did bring that to my attention a while ago about distribution of cheques into the small community, whether it be some sort of non-cash item in the stores. Some family members are not getting the actual food that they should be getting. Those are the areas we are seriously looking at, how we can distribute a certain amount, whether it be the cheques or vouchers to the stores, so that the families can certainly benefit from it. I’m glad the Member is raising this issue because it is important to us, the well-being of the children and the community.

The Member can look at it as a technical problem, but I see some challenges there. Through challenges it creates opportunities to work with. Certainly we will be presenting to standing committee once we work out the logistics within our Department of ECE, because there is federal funding as well. We need to work with FMB as well. Once that has been developed, I am more than willing to commit to the standing committee to present to them.