Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree with the Members who have spoken that the goal of this motion is to give the message to the government that greater authority must be transferred to regional health boards. However, the fact remains that not every regional health board is in exactly the same state of development across the territories. I think that is pretty clear from an earlier motion that this committee brought forward, where we directed the government to ensure that a regional board was established in the Deh Cho region. I think that we have to recognize that what we want to say with the motion is that the decision about when the board takes on the responsibilities should rest with the board.

That is the intention of our motion, but we have to recognize that not every board is at exactly the same level of preparedness, right now, to take on all those responsibilities. It shouldn't be us saying to them you have to take it on if they are not quite ready. If they need another year, if they need another six months to get ready, it should be their choice as to what timing it is for them to take on specific responsibilities. That is why I had suggested earlier and was prepared to move an amendment to replace the word "able" with "prepared". I think that would then make it very clear that it wasn't to be somebody assessing whether or not they were able, it was the board determining whether or not they were prepared to take on the responsibility. I think that would deal with the difference states of readiness that the boards are in across the territories. I would urge Members to vote against this particular amendment and if it fails I will immediately make a motion to replace the word "able" with the word "prepared."

Mr. Chairman, with an amendment on the floor that doesn't exclude the department from doing exactly what the chairman of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services is saying. If the responsibilities are determined, or the authority is given to the board, it could be managed even with the way the amendment is presented right now. We're asking that the greater authority should be transferred to regional boards period. And, I think that's the general statement that all of us have agreed to.

If you go back, Mr. Chairman, to the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commission's interim report and on their final report on Health and Hospital Boards in the territories, the reference to MOU is reflected in this report. They had series of consultations with various boards across the territories and it was also noted in the Auditor General's report ending March 31, 1990. So this whole issue of MOU has been going on for a number of years now, Mr. Chairman, and it's also been reflected in the last three reports of the Public Accounts. We know that by the end of this month, we are going to have two MOUs in place, one for one hospital and one for one regional board. The Department of Health is anticipating that they will be concluded by March 31, 1994.

Now, the question here is authority. The authority has already been recommended to the government through these other reports. So I'm not too sure exactly what more we can tell the government to do because it's also reflected in the comprehensive audit of the Department of Health. So, there are three committees that have been dealing with this now, Mr. Chairman. If you leave it in the general terms, as it is composed now, then I think that can be sufficient enough for the government to proceed with these MOUs, as it was discussed in a number of previous reports. So, I don't see a big problem with the amendment that's being put forward. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, people served by local health and social service committees seem most happy with the way those services are delivered in their communities. These organizations seem to give local residents a greater sense of participation in and ownership of these important services. This process must be encouraged, but the committees should not be imposed on our communities. They must be established only at the request and direction of people at the local level who can best determine their requirements.

Mr. Chairman, I think perhaps the Minister of Social Services may have to address this question because I believe that Mr. Gargan is referring to the Social Assistance Appeal Committees. Our recommendation here doesn't deal with social assistance appeal committees. These are advisory committees that often operate in communities. Typically they are appointed by the local hamlet council and they provide advice on health and social service issues within the community.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The people who provide our health and social services must become more sensitive to the culture, traditions and languages of the people they serve. This is essential if our front line workers are to be viewed as credible and positive members of the community in which they work.

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee recommend that an effective cross-cultural training program must be established and made compulsory for all new front line workers and for those working in cross-cultural situations.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Part of this increased sensitivity to our different communities must be an acceptance of the different forms of healing that are practised in the Northwest Territories. A number of people take a more holistic approach to health, addressing spiritual as well as physical matters.