Thank you. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on December 9, 1991, on the status of the family law review committee. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Marie-Jewell asked about the status of the family law review committee work. To give a brief background, the family law review began in 1989 based on a proposal from a combination of community groups. A working group was appointed with representation from the major aboriginal organizations, the legal profession, the Advisory Council on the Status of Women and the Departments of Social Services and Justice.

A legal consultant was retained on contract to do research and to write the report on the advice and direction of the members of the working group. When the contractor did not finish the work as expected, the working group met last March and decided to complete it by having individual working group members assume responsibility for writing portions of the report. It was hoped that their work would be finished by now, but this has not proved possible.

The chairperson, who was an employee with the Department of Justice, is now working with the Department of Social Services. She has continued as chairperson and will see the project through to the reporting stage.

It has been the policy of the government to avoid interference with the work of the committee, but to encourage and facilitate its progress. The task they have undertaken is enormous and we are confident that a valuable report will be received.

I understand that the bulk of the work is near completion. When the chairperson receives all the reports she will edit the work and compile it in a recommendation format. It will then have to be distributed to all the working group members. When their comments have been received some revision of the report may be necessary. After that it will be presented to the Minister of Social Services and myself. This will take place over the next few weeks and will be complete before the end of the fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, today I will be providing further information on the contracts involved in this project in a response to the written question which was asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on December 9th.