Debates of February 13, 2025 (day 44)

February
13
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
44
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek. Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Acknowledgement 11-20(1): Sahtu Recipients of 2024-2025 Indigenous Language Revitalization Scholarships
Member’s Statement 494-20(1): Building Shelter Capacity Fund
Member’s Statement 495-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centre Closures
Member’s Statement 496-20(1): Innovation in Response to Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closures
Member’s Statement 497-20(1): Dilapidated Housing in Small Communities
Member’s Statement 498-20(1): Opportunities for Indigenous Employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 499-20(1): Access to Affordable Childcare
Member’s Statement 500-20(1): State of Child and Family Services
Member’s Statement 501-20(1): Implementation of Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Member’s Statement 502-20(1): Land Title Transfers for Private Homes
Member’s Statement 503-20(1): Hand Games Tournaments
Minister’s Statement 94-20(1): Celebrating Indigenous Languages
Minister’s Statement 95–20(1): Regional Support for Supply Chain Success
Motion 46-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 25, 2025
Question 507-20(1): Implementation of the Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Question 508-20(1): Implementation of the Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Question 509-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closures
Question 510-20(1): Innovation in Response to Aurora College Community Learning Centres Closures
Question 511-20(1): Shelter Network Funding and Training
Question 512-20(1): Remediation and Demolition of Housing Northwest Territories Units in Mackenzie Delta
Question 513-20(1): Effectiveness of Indigenous Employment Programs in the Public Service
Question 514-20(1): Child and Family Services Plan of Care Agreements
Question 515-20(1): Implementation of the Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Question 516-20(1): Implementation of the Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement
Tabled Document 291-20(1): Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act
Statements

Question 516-20(1): Implementation of the Northwest Territories Early Learning and Childcare Agreement

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, an ongoing narrative for day homes in the Northwest Territories is that they're rolling in cash and are a bunch of fat cats compared to daycare centre workers and they're being held in direct contrast to one another. But ECE's own numbers show that day homes make $22 an hour, the lowest spot on the page grid. So day homes are asking me why does this narrative continue, why are day homes -- the financial limitations and their spot on the pay grid not a concern to the department? I'd like to ask the Minister that. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've never used any of the words that the Member has just outlined, neither has the department, and I see day homes as a necessary and a very much well used aspect of our childcare sector in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, day homes are asking for more flexibility. In Alberta, the regulations do allow for voluntary fees at the discretion of the operator, things like food, outings, late fees, extended hours. Can the Minister agree to allow for voluntary fees at day homes and daycare centres in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I absolutely want people to be able to access anything that we are allowed to within the contract that we have signed with the federal government. One of the pieces of that is us being able to maintain that $10 a day fee for families. Certainly, the Government of Alberta does have deeper pockets than us, and so I would commit to looking into that and where that discrepancy comes from. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you. It's not a discrepancy, Mr. Speaker. It's -- I acknowledge the Minister will look into it and I thank her for that. But it's not a discrepancy. It's a regulation that allows to them to do it. So they signed on to the Canada-wide agreement, they're part of it, so will the Minister commit to reviewing the regs and reporting back to this House? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, if I -- I guess the word I should have used instead of discrepancy was difference. I'm acknowledging that there is a difference between Alberta's regulations and our regulations and said to the Member that I would look into why that ability for Alberta to be different than us exists, and I am certainly committed to figuring this out. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's Address. Petitions. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Reports of Standing and Special Committees.