Minister, thank you for being here.
I am the member of Parliament for Calgary Centre. We're Treaty No. 7 people. We're the traditional home of the Blackfoot people, the Tsuut'ina people and the Stoney-Nakoda nation, and Métis region 3.
I was struck by your comments that we are moving towards an education system now that recognizes that we should have funding for first nations kids commensurate to what they receive in the city. I think I am a big believer in that equality of opportunity. Whether you're born of a rich family or one that struggles, you get an opportunity to build your life; whether you're born in the city or on a reserve, you get an opportunity to build your life.
There is an organization in Calgary called the Palix Foundation. The research that it is doing looks more towards the time frame from birth to three years of age, and it's recognizing that life chances are largely formed within that time period of an individual's life.
Is your department looking at better ways to support indigenous communities in that critical period of birth to three years of age, to help support families, to ensure that there are day care spaces where they're learning through play—all those activities that track and move children forward through the rest of their lives?