Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that Bill 12, an Act to Amend the Mental Health Act, be read for the first time.

Your motion is in order, Ms. Cournoyea. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed to the motion? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 12 has had first reading. Item 17, Second Reading of Bills. Bill 8 and Bill 10 have been stood down for today and will be on the order paper for tomorrow. Item 18, Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters: Committee Report 1-12(3), Standing Committee on Finance Report on the Review of the 1993-94 Capital Estimates; and Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1993-94 with Mr. Ningark in the Chair.

We will now come to order. When we concluded Friday in this committee, we concluded the Department of Health of the 1993-94 Capital Estimates. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Nerysoo, did you have your hand up earlier?

Mr. Chairman, I was going to suggest that we deal with the Department of Social Services, the Department of Renewable Resources and the Legislative Assembly in that particular order this afternoon.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Do we have the concurrence of this committee that we deal with Social Services, Renewable Resources and the Legislative Assembly?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Since we have been moving fairly quickly since 1:30 p.m., I will reward the committee and take a 15 minute recess.

---SHORT BREAK

Good afternoon, the committee will now come to order. Concerning page 13-10 of the 1993-94 Capital Estimates, there was a request from the committee to deal with Social Services and there was an agreement by the committee to deal with that department. I will now go to Madam Premier, who represents the whole department for the time being. Madam Premier, please make your opening remarks.

Department of Social Services, Introductory Remarks

Yes, Mr. Chairman. In the presentation of the Department of Social Services, the 1993-94 Capital Estimates include 13 projects, which total $3.468 million. Due to the continuation of the financial restraint program, the department's capital budget remains at a reduced level, although there are growing demands on our services during these tough economic times. The major thrust in the department of the coming year, in family and children's services, is to complete the group home in Baker Lake. In the community and family support services area the thrust is to commence and planning for an elders' residence in Fort Resolution and Gjoa Haven and to build a handicapped group home in Rankin Inlet and to commence planning for one in Inuvik. The remainder of the budget is for renovations to existing facilities, purchases of minor items of furniture and equipment and planning and design for new facilities.

I hope that there will be support from the Members for these requests, and I want to bring in the departmental official to help me answer any questions that the Members may have. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Before we bring in the witnesses, I wonder if the Standing Committee on Finance or the Standing Committee on Legislation have any presentations to make? Ms. Mike.

Standing Committee On Finance Comments

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The recommendations from the Standing Committee on Finance...(translation ends)

...feeling that alcohol and drug addiction is a disease, and as a result it seems to natural to integrate health and hospital facilities to achieve economy of scale. This should result in cost savings. The committee feels that the government should conduct a feasibility study on the merits of integrating these facilities. However, this study should take into consideration the development of culturally appropriate treatment models.

I move that this committee recommends that the Departments of Social Services and Health conduct a feasibility study on the merits of integrating alcohol and drug facilities with health and hospital facilities.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Continue, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee has recommended that planning for the new Inuvik hospital commence in 1993-94 and that alcohol and drug facilities be planned in conjunction with hospital facilities.

I move that this committee recommends that the Departments of Social Services and Health carry out a needs study and program plan for an alcohol and drug treatment centre in Inuvik, in conjunction with the programming for a new or renovated hospital in Inuvik during 1993-94.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. During the review of the 1992-93 Capital Estimates the committee recommended that the planning proceed and a specific location be committed for the group home in the Fort Smith region, based on serving the most people in the best way possible. To the committee's shock, this item has been removed completely from the 1993-94 capital plan, to meet the department's capital target provided by the financial board, we were told. However, there are funds set aside for additions to museums. We are greatly disappointed by this behaviour. The N.W.T. residents in need of treatment must live in Alberta, instead of being closer to their families. Our capital management has to be better than this. Staff and politicians have to be trained, reinforced, reprimanded or otherwise motivated to do better for the people of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.