Caitlin Cleveland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal government's universal child care goal is to build a Canadawide communitybased system of quality care. This is good news. But unfortunately this good news has had a rocky shotgun start here in the Northwest Territories. While the foundation for $10aday child care takes shape, some struggles we are seeing aren't new to this funding model.

The federal government's own explicit model in this new Canadawide social program is Quebec who, in 1997, built an affordable child care system. This system has led to large increases in birthgiver employment and...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just while we're talking about the Status of Women, I believe it was last summer there was engagement done on the Status of Women Act. And I'm wondering what the expected timeline is on that act and if we'll see a bill in the life of this Assembly? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I'm talking too fast even for myself.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 65, Builders’ Lien Act.

Bill 65 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on November 3rd, 2022 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.

On January 18th, 2023, the committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Justice and expressed concerns with the bill, including the level of consultation completed prior to introduction of the bill. Following the public hearing, the Government House Leader requested that committee seek an extension on the...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, based on the high demand of child care in some communities, I'm wondering if this fund, if it is able to provide full funding to some programs based on what is left in the pot or if the department of education has a maximum of what they're prepared to provide to child care centres? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in regards to the early childhood infrastructure fund. Currently the fund is set at $1 million every year, and I'm wondering if there is a plan to increase this fund given ECE's current child care goals? Thank you.

No, that's excellent. We look forward to seeing it and working with Cabinet on it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a document entitled "Early Learning and Child Care in Canada: Where Have We Come and Where are We Going?" published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That is excellent news, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much for that. So what I would like to know is if the review that's currently taking place with SEED, if that will include a review of the market disruption clause and also any kind of potential down the road for a residency postgrant requirement. So people who are getting SEED aren't turning around as soon as they get it and leaving the territory with that investment in their business, that they're actually staying and doing that business development here in the territory. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Chair, I just want to repeat I know something that the Minister has heard me say before, but I think it's really important to repeat, and that is that there are existing federallyaccredited fish plants in the Northwest Territories already. And I just want to essentially hear a commitment from the Minister to ensure that when they're going through these talks at federal tables that that is recalled and advocated for so that we're not inadvertently pushing out people in the business sector who have had a tremendous amount of investment into this sector already. Thank you.