Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the Minister if any communities other than Rankin Inlet were considered?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, two other communities that were considered were Baker Lake and Arviat.

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

What was the justification for the decision to place the home in Rankin Inlet?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, perhaps Mr. Dunbar can outline how the selection took place.

Mr. Dunbar.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It was a combination of assessing the ability of the communities to provide the support services to the potential residents of these homes, and consulting with the M.L.A.s from the region.

Thank you. Member for Thebacha.

Is it the department's understanding that all the Members from the Keewatin agreed that it should go to Rankin Inlet?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, I believe the consultation process took place, and I would not know whether everyone agreed that it should be in Rankin Inlet.

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Chairman, it was the deputy minister who just indicated that in consultation with the M.L.A.s the site was chosen. I would like to ask whether or not all M.L.A.s from the Keewatin area agreed to locating the site in Rankin Inlet?

Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, I believe he stated that "consultation took place", but I do not think the deputy minister advocated that everyone agreed. That is why I made my previous statement. Consultation does not necessarily mean consent.

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Chairman, I am asking these questions to point out to the House that, whether Mr. Todd for Keewatin Central was here or not, I would pose the same questions. I have already expressed this concern to him as a Member that the Keewatin Central already has a handicapped adult group home in Rankin Inlet. Another one is being built in Rankin Inlet. No consideration was given to Arviat or Baker Lake, because it is assessing the ability of the community to provide the resources for the operation of this facility. It is the same attitude that the government has towards communities that are too big to be small and too small to be big. If they are not given an opportunity to provide the resources for facilities like this, then how are they going to be able to produce resource people to operate these facilities? If this attitude continues the small communities will stay small and the big communities will grow. I come from one of the larger communities but that same attitude is directed towards even my community, when things are done here in Yellowknife because of the inability of people or resources. How are we to develop these resources? I am concerned that a community like Arviat or Baker Lake could have been given a chance to build a facility like this. They could have been able to develop the resources to operate a facility like this but they are not. I am concerned about that and the attitude of the government towards this had better change. Thank you.

Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, I know that this particular project has been bouncing around for a good number of years with the same discussion. I certainly concur with the Member about the situation where a particular community is always chosen because it has an adequate facility to support it. Other than agreeing with the Member in terms of the rationale she is talking about, I know that this decision has been made and certainly the comments are going to have to be noted.

Thank you. Keewatin, total region $1.615 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Total buildings and works $1.822 million. Agreed?