Tom Beaulieu

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think that the government should have this Heritage Act, as I see it, like a savings account but only use this fund or put money into this fund when all of the communities have what is required for them to function as a community.

Right now I have mixed feelings about a fund such as the Heritage Fund, a fund such as this, when we know that there are still communities in the Northwest Territories that don’t have basic essentials. The basic essentials that are afforded to larger communities in the Northwest Territories, that’s not a problem. They can save, put money...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister ensure that all early childhood development studies or reports or anything that pertains to preschool and the positive impacts of preschool are placed in the transitional documents for the next government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to ask the Minister if in the early childhood development work that the department’s engaging in, if there has been some discussions with the teachers and the principals of the schools where there are preschools available and in schools where there are no preschools available. Thank you.

Along with the extra four hours a day they spend on travel to get their children to and from preschool, they would even pay up to $1,200 a month to have their children attend preschool.

I believe this government has made a commitment to increase high school graduates. Let’s start at preschool and I’m sure the benefits will be there in the future.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to once again stress the need for daycare and preschool programs along with the facilities to operate these programs in Tu Nedhe.

In Lutselk’e there are many parents who wish to work but because there is no daycare, they have no choice but to stay at home. There are also times when parents had to give up jobs because they had difficulty finding a sitter for their children.

As for children who have no preschool experience, they start kindergarten not being school ready. This is a fact and in the screening process for school readiness for instruction in school...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Thursday, August 25, 2011, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that the following persons be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for reappointment as members of the Human Rights Adjudication Panel, effective on December 1, 2011, for a term of four years: Ms. Joan Mercredi of Fort Smith and Mr. Adrian Wright of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, will be supporting this amendment to the act. I think it’s important for the safety of other drivers and pedestrians on the road that you’re not distracted while you’re operating a motor vehicle, so I would support that. Both talking on the cell and texting on the cell while driving seem to be unsafe things to do. This would restrict that, so I support the bill. Thank you.

Does this government plan on moving forward with any transitional document to try to provide support for the communities to hire qualified youth workers? I think that if we have some program dollars, or we have some infrastructure, the one piece of the puzzle that seems to be missing is qualified youth workers who work with the youth so that they have programs that are viable at the community level.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the youth, and programs and infrastructure that are needed for the youth in the communities. I have questions for the Minister of youth. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister what this government is going to do to ensure that some of the much needed infrastructure that was built for the youth is going to continue on to the other communities that don’t have that infrastructure yet. Thank you.