Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We often heard people talk about children as being our future here in the NWT. As we travelled, we saw that some of our children need help if they are to live up to their potential to contribute to this future. Regional and local staff who see children in need of early intervention to address their special needs need to know where to go for the expertise and funds to be able to help. For those who might be missed in an early intervention program, and to deal with problems which might occur later, Social Services should be encouraged to put staff in schools to work with teachers to assist young people at risk.
In a time of tight money, one obvious source of funds for such intervention is the federal brighter futures program. Prompt action to make these funds available to NWT communities is absolutely necessary. Mr. Chairman, as a side note, I understand that such a deal with brighter futures has now been signed and that the program is now available in the Northwest Territories. The committee congratulates the government on taking such action. I hope they will encourage communities to take advantage of the funds that are available and the programs that could be put in place through that funding. But, Mr. Chairman, that would only address part of the problem.