Julie Green

I look forward to your support. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in September last year, Commissioner George Tuccaro inducted the first members of the Order of the Northwest Territories in a ceremony in this Chamber. Ruth Spence of Yellowknife was among the first five inductees. Since then, no recognition of this tremendous distinction has been given before this Assembly, so I rise here today to correct that omission.

Ruth Spence has been a community activist and organizer in the North since her arrival here, almost 50 years ago. In 1966, the YWCA opened at 12-bed facility in a house on Matonabee Street, specifically for...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 33 by deleting the words “We will support a communications campaign to promote women in politics” and inserting the words “We will support a communications campaign to increase the participation of women in politics.” Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have nothing further to add. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, be amended on page 25 by inserting the following words under the “Fostering Healthy Family” section “We will reduce poverty in the NWT by implementing the GNWT commitments in the Territorial Anti-Poverty Action Plan, continuing to work with our partners to advance the plan and supporting communities' priorities for wellness.”

And further, that the proposed mandate be amended on page 26 by deleting the words “Supporting community wellness priorities that address the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Daycare affordability is a major issue for working families in the Northwest Territories, as I just said. It's usually the largest expense after accommodation. Funding for childcare comes primarily from the fees that parents pay. Just 20 per cent of childcare costs come from public funding in the NWT, one of the lowest levels in the developed world and less than one per cent of our budget. In the academic study of the feasibility of providing universal daycare in the NWT, the authors make the following recommendations about grants to daycare operators. I'm going to quote...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much, colleagues, for speaking in support of this important initiative, and thank you to the Minister for his remarks. I just want to reflect that I understand that the road to Whati is going in to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board for permitting without any money to build it and so surely creating a plan to implement daycare, and a timeline, for it is no more outlandish a use of time and resources by the government. What we are talking about here, as you have heard, is education. It's about care, but it's about education. Surely, our children are...

I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, be amended on page 23 by deleting the words “We will develop options for universal daycare and changes to support overall affordability, ensuring sustainability for early childhood program operators and expanded access to early childhood programs across the territory,” and inserting the words “We will develop an action plan for universal daycare within the next two years, including a timeline for implementation.”

Thank you to the Minister for his answer. What I'm looking for, then, is in order to improve the system of wage subsidies for the people who work at daycares is to have the government look at providing those to employers rather than individuals in order to speed up the payment. What I'm looking for from the Minister is a commitment to investigate making this change.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of the Government of Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 be amended on page 33 by deleting the words “We will enhance gender equity in the appointment of residents to territorial boards and agencies to further develop women's leadership experience and exposure to governance” and inserting the words “We will improve gender equity in appointments to territorial boards and agencies.”