Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Social Services. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Social Services is probably aware that payment directives have been established to specify the process through which alcohol and drug contributions funding is to be distributed to various counselling programs and treatment centres across the territories.

These requirements that all O and M contributions must be reviewed, and referred to a board of community representatives before they are approved which is the board of management. It is a requirement, Mr. Speaker, under the Financial Administration Act, that these payment directives must be followed. If any public office becomes aware that these requirements are being contravened, they can be found guilty of an offense.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that for the 1992-93 contribution applications the board of management for alcohol and drug services were not even allowed to meet. Finally, a month after the applications were approved a telephone conference was held with some board members, but even at the time the department did not provide the board with copies of the funding application.

Can the Minister of Social Services explain why his department has disregarded the process of community representation in decisions about alcohol and drug funding? Thank you.