Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Social Services. Fourteen months ago the Honourable Jeannie Marie-Jewell tabled in the 11th Assembly a comprehensive strategy plan for the delivery of alcohol and drug services. The document stated that it was important that the wage and benefit structure of the counselling profession at the community level makes it attractive for a good many trainees to remain in the counselling careers so that good people are not lost as a result of real, or perceived, low wages.
Can the Minister of Social Services advise the House why the Department is being so slow to follow the advice of its own consultants and address the deficient salary schedule for the addiction counsellors before we lose too many good people at the field level.