Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the present time, we are preparing an information package for distribution to the communities. Thank you.

Thank you. Directorate. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Within that information package are there any new initiatives you are going to be considering to ensure you utilize this $940,000 you are asking for?

Thank you. The honourable Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the past, I believe not all the communities have been aware of these youth initiatives. After the information package has been developed and distributed to the communities, I believe there will be much more response to this program. Thank you.

Thank you. Directorate. Honourable Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Chairman, awareness is one thing, I recognize that. The Minister is saying that her officials have not made the communities aware of this funding and that is part of the result of lapsing $300,000. This particular funding allotment has been in the budget for about four or five years, so what have the officials been doing to make the communities aware that this funding is there? What new type of initiatives or criteria are they going to consider to ensure they use this funding? Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Mr. Chairman, I will let Mr. Dunbar respond to that.

Mr. Dunbar.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The criteria that has been used for evaluating proposals has been highly dependent upon the proposals being submitted by youth for youth, although adult groups could be sponsoring these particular proposals. They have been targeted at certain types of initiatives, but one of the things that the department recommended early on was that if the proposals funded ongoing positions, it would not be very long before the youth initiatives fund would be consumed on a yearly basis without having new money available. When we listened to the concerns expressed by Members of the Standing Committee on Finance about the lack of awareness, we became very much aware that perhaps we had not really gone out very actively to all communities in the north to make them aware. Staff have visited several communities and several good projects have resulted, but we are going to be doing a much

more concerted type of advertising and we will be working with our regional staff to become more aware of the program and assisting community groups and youth groups in submitting proposals.

Qujannamiik. Member for Thebacha. Directorate. Total O and M, $11.601 million. Mr. Whitford.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The position is filled by a person who is on an acting basis. Thank you.

Merci. Directorate. Total and O and M, $11.601 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Family and Children's Services

Thank you. Next page, family and children's services. Total O and M, $13.861 million. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to the monitoring and evaluation services for the care of children pursuant to the Child Welfare Act, last year on October 2, the Minister tabled a document on family law review. The report talks about custom adoption and some recommendations with regard to that. One recommendation is that custom adoption practices should not be detailed in legislation, but should be recognized. Has your department looked at this document, and what is your department doing with regard to custom adoption?

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will let Mr. Dunbar respond to that.

Mr. Dunbar.

Mr. Chairman, the family law review report is being reviewed by department staff in conjunction with staff from the Department of Justice. The recommendations are being carefully considered in terms of developing a plan in responding to them. That particular action plan has not yet been finalized.

Thank you. Mr. Gargan.