Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I believe the general comment that should be made about this budget is that, in spite of the pressing social needs in all parts of the Northwest Territories -- which I think were very clearly spelled out in the report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services -- and in comparison to the total capital budget, this department seems to have a very small capital budget. I just want to make that comment.

Unfortunately, these social issues are not going to go away. We are not going to get fewer elders or fewer requirements for elder facilities. We are not going to get fewer children in need, and neither are requirements for treatment programs going to diminish. My general comment would be that it is unfortunate that the department does not seem to have been successful in marshalling the data necessary to present and justify capital needs, in comparison to other priorities of the government. I think that's where the Standing Committee on Finance's recommendation comes in, that the data has to be put together to lay the groundwork for these capital plans.

I only have to look at the Baffin region where, for some reason, the necessary work was not done to lay the groundwork for the long-awaited group home. So, once again, it has slipped from the capital plan. I believe the department is now committed to getting that work done. There was some question about whether it was a regional or a headquarters responsibility and it fell between the cracks. This is an example of a pressing need that should not be overlooked because the necessary homework wasn't done. I'm hopeful that will be fixed up in the coming year.

Mr. Chairman, on the issue of alcohol and drug treatment centres, I think it should be pointed out that the department appears to be acting somewhat inconsistently, in the Inuvik and the Keewatin regions, on the issue of an alcohol and drug treatment centre. The response of the Standing Committee on Finance got to its recommendation last year was that there had been agreement reached to integrate the proposed alcohol and drug treatment facility with the planned Inuvik regional hospital.

The Standing Committee on Finance was given that commitment, in response to last year's recommendations that agreement had been reached between the Departments of Health and Social Services. That was reported to the Standing Committee on Finance and I think that's in keeping with the recommendation that there are advantages, economies of scale, and it is helpful to have medical services readily available preparing for treatment, or in treatment.

Yet, the same department has not yet been able to make that commitment in the Keewatin region. Just to underscore what Mrs. Marie-Jewell said, if it makes sense in the Inuvik region -- and I think we all believe that it does make sense -- then it should also make sense in the Keewatin region to integrate those facilities to achieve economies of scale, savings and efficiency. I just think that the sooner this is spelled out to the people of the Keewatin, the better. Right now, anyone looking at the capital plan would assume that there would be a stand-alone facility and when you build up public expectations, sometimes it is hard to change them further on down the road.

I've noted the Minister's commitment to seriously explore this issue and her comment that it should await the community needs assessment, which I think is acceptable. But I think what Members of the Standing Committee on Finance are recommending is that, as soon as possible, the government's intention and desire, in principle, to combine these facilities should be communicated to the health board and the people of the Keewatin so that expectations are not raised that there will be a stand-alone facility.

I think that nothing more needs to be said on this issue. Hopefully, by this time next year, we'll find that the necessary groundwork has been done so that the appearance of a stand-alone facility in the capital plan will no longer prevail. I do believe it would be premature to start designing a facility or even pre-designing a facility until that community needs assessment has been completed and the feasibility of integrating with a health facility is explored. I think the Minister has basically agreed with that position. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.