Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 12, Business Day Statute Law Amendment Act; and, Tabled Document 275-20(1), 2025-2026 Main Estimates, Education, Culture and Employment and Housing Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And yeah, I would hope that that support is offered through the department to ensure that these providers can get the help they need to get these courses as quickly as possible and including the certification process.

Mr. Speaker, and the Minister mentioned the $3.5 million that was added to the budget last year for the wage subsidy. Can the Minister confirm that that funding will again -- once again be continued through the funding this fiscal year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke in my Member's statement about the discrepancy between day homes and childcare centres and that the day homes -- in my conversations with the NWT Early Childhood Association -- are not included in this wage grid subsidy program. Can the Minister commit to taking a look at changing this so that the day home providers can also access this funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke in my Member's statement about the agreement that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has with the federal government to create 300 spaces by 2026. So last year I think we had 76. My questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and can she speak to -- it seems that the -- we're a little off track. Can the department provide further information on how they plan to meet those targets of 300 spaces. Thank you.

No further questions at this time, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you to the Minister. And we had this conversation last year. Last year, I believe we came in with a $90 million surplus, and there was some -- a little bit of ambiguity around what that was being spent on. I think at the end of the day, it was determined that $40 million was basically work in progress, or $30 million I believe, Madam Chair, and $60 million had been allocated to units going forward. It seems to me if you look back historically year after year, there's always a significant accumulated surplus with housing corp, and it...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm following up sort of on my colleague from Range Lake, and I'm looking at the annual report from 2023-2024, the annual report as of March 31st, 2024. And it shows in there, I think, that -- if I'm correct that the housing corporation or NWT Housing had 88 -- started the year with a $40 million surplus, ended with an $88 million surplus, Madam Chair. I'm just wondering if that funding or any of that funding has been considered as part of the incremental plan that the Minister has spoke to. And if not, what is the plan for -- what's the plan coming in for...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, adult education learning, it's in our mandate. It's part of what we provide as a government. For me, this is about lack of consultation before such what I would consider a somewhat radical decision. There are many people and will be many people affected by the closures of the learning centres and, for me, know, the reason I would support this motion is what I would hope is that, you know, if Aurora College decides that it no longer wants to provide this service, then I would suggest that ECE under its mandate use this funding to continue the support for the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that. That is, indeed, excellent news.

I guess I would ask if the Minister can commit to giving us a kind of a costed plan on how the department intends to reach the 300 spaces by 2026 that was intended when the agreement was signed with the federal government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member's statement, I did mention in there that I know the Minister's aware that childcare providers are required to complete the essentials course in order to be a childcare provider either in a day home or in a centre.

Mr. Speaker, oftentimes, you know, providers may have English as a second language or may require some assistance. Does the department provide assistance, or what assistance does the department provide to the individuals who are taking these courses? Thank you.