Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is something that the department will have to work out with the Department of Health when Health and Social Services are consolidated.

Yes, there was considerable discussion on the Keewatin alcohol and drug treatment centre. I'm just wondering what is the understanding of what's going to happen with planning money? Is it going to be on hold until the regional or community assessments are done? Is it going to be planned in isolation? What did you agree on with my other colleagues that were asking questions earlier?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Pollard and I had a very brief time in discussing this. My understanding is that some of this money would be used for needs assessment and I'm also hoping that the Keewatin regional health needs assessment will be completed some time this year. I don't know how far they are with it but it is something I plan to work on, along with Mr. Pollard, who is now responsible for the Department of Health.

Is my understanding correct then, that whatever facilities are built or planned for, are going to be treated similarly to what we are doing in Inuvik, where there is a move to try to combine the two facilities under one roof?

I said, is that correct?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, Keewatin would be treated similarly to Inuvik. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one quick question, I asked a whole lot of questions in general comments. On this specific one, what would happen if the community needs assessment, that the Minister will be conducting for the health centre, showed that the people in the communities other than Rankin Inlet want to improve their community health facilities, rather than wanting a big health centre in Rankin. What would happen to the alcohol and drug treatment centre plan that already is to be part of that big health centre?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe the Member for Aivilik's question is a hypothetical question for me that really has no substance. We are talking in the absence of the Keewatin regional health needs assessment. It not having been completed, I can not answer Mr. Arvaluk's question at this time.

Mr. Chairman, I guess that requires a bit of clarification. I understood the needs assessment -- I don't take it as being hypothetical -- is trying to find out from the communities: what the real needs are; what the costs are; whether they want to have the improved health facilities in the community; what would be the need in terms of birthing, surgery and X-rays; and, what are the most common illnesses in the communities. I don't think my question was a hypothetical one because everything is open to those kinds of questions when you are doing the community assessment. That was my base for the question. What would happen if the communities decide what they really want is better health centres in the communities rather than a big one in Rankin Inlet.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To answer Mr. Arvaluk's question, earlier on I stated that I am open to options. I will not initiate unless I have the support of the community and the regional level. If the assessment identifies that it should be in another community rather than Rankin Inlet, so be it. I am open to it. Maybe the last time I wasn't very clear on it, Mr. Chairman. Maybe this time the Member understands when I said I am open to open to options, what I meant by that.

Mr. Chairman, if a needs assessment is done on a regional basis, it doesn't necessarily mean that all communities would have the same level of social problems at any given time. Am I to understand the Minister is suggesting that it would probably go to the community that has the most or the worst problems?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If the needs assessment that is being carried out with regional health identifies a community, and it is substantiated with the kind of suggestions that Mr. Gargan is saying -- if it is substantiated, yes, it is then valid as far as I can see.