Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make comments with respect to the "Strength at Two Levels" report. In reviewing the document, Mr. Chairman, I found, I believe, some errors in the document. I will point out some of those areas as we go through the document in more detail. However, I do want to let the government know that the document basically phased the idea of strengthening the two levels at the community level in respect of a more co-operative effort toward dealing with government on program deliveries and allowing the community, if they so choose, to take over control of many of the responsibilities that can be delivered in a community.

The concept is good in theory as I indicated in one of our committee meetings. However, I am somewhat concerned about the fact that many of the communities in the North may not want it and they may not be ready for it. They may not be ready for the responsibility and the task at hand. I stated and eluded to the fact that government has just come into the North some 30 years ago. Prior to our generation, the aboriginal people in the North were totally self-sufficient. I believe government has invaded many of the responsibilities of an individual over the time frame. People have taken away a lot of the responsibilities thus resulting in less self-sufficiency by individuals.

I am somewhat concerned that even when you think of the small responsibility of child care there is concern or an expectation by the public that government should provide child care. I recognize that, as well as the need for assistance by single parents, by all means. But at the same time, I fully respect individuals and I know that I, as a mother, would like to feel that it is my total responsibility to determine what type of child care I want for my children, or if I want any assistance from government with respect to child care. I do not like to feel that child care is there and we should use it. It should be used by people who need it. The opportunity should be made available for people in need of it.

When you look at how government has dealt with individuals, aboriginal people in particular, they have come in over the years giving everything to the communities. They have given them an enhanced lifestyle. They have given them many things in life that make it easier for them to live. As they keep giving, the expectations become greater. Now they find themselves in a financial position where they have a difficult time recognizing that they are going to keep on being able to give the community the level of service that they are currently able to deliver. I know the "Strength at Two Levels" report says that they are giving more responsibility to the communities. I find that if you give more responsibility to the communities, you are no doubt going to put a lot more pressure on the community itself. I am somewhat concerned that communities may not be ready, but I would like to know if the government does decide that -- I know it is not going to be in the term of this government to be able to devolve as much responsibility as they want or as much as the report states. I take this report as somewhat like a blueprint or a plan of action that government can look at maybe over the next 10 years, not something that can be done right away. I feel that it is very critical to let the public know that this report and the recommendations in this report, even though some of them can be implemented, the time frame for the recommendations to be implemented is critical, to be able to formulate it into a strategy and phase it throughout the North at an appropriate timetable that is acceptable, not only to this House and to the government, but to the North in itself and particularly, to some of the communities that may not want to take over many of these responsibilities.

The other concern that I have in respect to this report is the fact that it goes from the community level of government to the level of -- to the level of central government and it leaves out, basically, the regional government concept. I would like to know from the Government Leader, what the intention of the government is with respect to how they are going to deal with regional councils and regional governments even though they are in our municipal acts, and what their intention of support is for regional councils even though it has not been addressed in this report. Some regional councils have been very strong in giving some type of direction towards government and looking after the communities that they represent. Although I do not believe all regional councils are as strong as others because of the fact that there have been wrong signals sent out to many regional councils.

I would like to basically know from the Government Leader, if they are going to continue to support regional councils or are they just going to allow regional councils to be a forum that gives opportunity for different communities at one point in time to gather together to discuss their concerns of commonalities? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.