Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to announce new services from the Department of Justice to help families in transition. These services are the first steps in longer-term project design to create an effective and accessible family law framework for more choices for families.

For many people, the court system works well, but it’s only one option. It can be expensive and time consuming. As Members know, mediation offers parents an alternative. They talk to each other, work out their issues, like where the kid will live, visitation, financial support and how they will continue...

Our goal is definitely to look out for the children at hand. We want them to succeed at life. Certainly throughout the North that’s our goal, the primary goal; to look after those children and their well-being and so forth. Certainly this area that the Member is alluding to, we continue to have the discussion on again improving our program. On a going-forward basis, those are the discussions we will be having during the business planning process and having dialogue with the federal government and FMB on improving our programs.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The funding we do provide, the contribution agreements to the daycare centres are to cover the operation and maintenance costs and also the rental costs and the mortgage. Those are the expenses that we cover for ongoing daycare operations here in the Northwest Territories. We do continue to provide the funding and whether it be the capital or base plus, that is the area of discussion that we can certainly have.

As I stated earlier, wherever we can improve our program, we are always keeping our options open. We are always improving our programs. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I believe the Member alluded to the Early Childhood Certification Program through Aurora College. We do certify them in that respect. Whether it be the legislation to, I’m not sure what the Member’s referring to, but certainly those are the areas we need to continue to discuss. I’d like to hear more feedback from the Member on where he’s going with this. Certainly we’re open to ideas and suggestions within our department. As I stated earlier, we will be going through our next phase of business planning process, so we continue to look for options from the Members.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 4, Public Library Act, be read for the third time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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.