Thank you. There is another community in Fort Liard. As I said before, I think all of the communities should have a senior citizens' facility in one form or another. In Fort Liard, they do not have a senior citizens' facility that was built by this government. A few years ago, the band council decided to do something on their own. They built a little log structure with four units in it. It is not really up to standard to the type of senior citizens' facilities that the territorial government builds for seniors in other communities. This is a log unit and it is not up to standard, but there are still elders living in there. This unit badly needs repair. They have to burn wood. It is not very well built, but that is still the only facility provided to them in the community. It was done by the band. I was asked by the people to bring it to the attention of this government and to the department. They would like to see if the government could provide them with a facility comparative to other communities which receive these facilities. This was a comment I wanted to make. I know it is a capital issue, but I wanted to raise that at this time.

Moving along to youth initiative funding, there is a program in that department. Has this program been used in this current year? If so, what has this program been doing over the year? I have not heard very much about it over the years. I was wondering if it has been used to the level that it is supposed to be used. Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Mike.

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

Mr. Dunbar.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. The youth initiative program has been active this year. There have been several projects funded upon application from various groups. I am not aware of any other in this particular constituency than a project in Trout Lake that was funded this year.

Thank you. General comments. Mr. Antoine.

On the youth initiative funding, I wanted to know if generally this program has been utilized to its full capacity in the past year and this current year. Thank you.

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No.

Thank you. General comments. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you. The one area in Social Services which is of concern to me is, as the different problems arise in the communities there is a need for more services and programs. One of the areas which was brought to my attention is -- it is also a capital need -- there is a need for a safe home in the Fort Simpson area. We do not have one there and whenever women need a safe place to go there are no safe homes in my constituency. Women have to be shipped to Hay River or Yellowknife from as far as Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte or Fort Simpson. There is a real need to provide that sort of service in the community. This need should have been there many years ago, but I do not know why this was not addressed earlier. Maybe it was addressed earlier, I am not too sure about the history of this, but there is a real need for this kind of facility in our constituency. Do you have any comment on that?

Thank you. I believe that was a point and not a question. Does the Minister wish to respond?

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

Mr. Dunbar.

Mr. Chairman, the original group of safe shelters which were established and funded arose from the results of the recommendations from a report called "Choices." There have not been additional shelters established except in a couple additional locations. The question of additional

shelters is one we will have to look at in terms of the capital plan process and also from a problematic point of view as to whether it is a question of promoting additional shelters or whether there are other community-based projects which could provide the type of support and assistance to people in this type of crises.

Thank you. The honourable Member for Nahendeh.

I think this is my final comment. On the social assistance food allowances, I too have concerns regarding this particular area. As I said in an earlier Member's statement in the House about the trapping season being very poor this year and many people in the smaller communities depend on the income they make from trapping but because of it being a very poor year it was very difficult to make any money from trapping. As a result, many people have turned to social assistance. There are people in the smaller communities who have never received social assistance before, but this year is the first time they are going for help because they have no other alternatives. As a result of that, it has been brought to my attention that the amount of allowance they receive is not adequate, it does not meet the level of support which it should. I know they are grateful they are receiving something, but if that is the only thing they are depending on for this period of time it is not adequate. In the Minister's statement today, the Minister indicated that this government will seriously review and consider, over the next few months, the matter of food allowance. She indicated there was an increase in October, but even that increase is not good enough and it should be more than what it currently is. I just want to make that one comment. Thank you.

Thank you. In the order of speakers I have Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Zoe, Mr. Pudlat then Mr. Gargan. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My comments will be in two parts with a couple of questions, Mr. Chairman. It seems to me in the past ten years that Social Services' programs have allowed some families, especially middle aged ones, to become chronic social assistance recipients without any incentive to find work or another forms of income. That has been passed down to their children when they are growing up in their teens or early twenties. I have also noticed that the chronic social assistance recipients do not discourage their daughters from having children because they want to adopt them and thereby be able to receive more social assistance. By having more children, they cannot afford to live on a regular earned salary. I am not saying not to have this kind of program because this is a Canadian right. I would like to ask the Minister if there is a program within Social Services to encourage chronic social assistance recipients to find other means of income or other means of independent living? Is there a problem within the department in doing that?

Thank you. The honourable Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The department is working together with the Department of Education.

Thank you. Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Chairman, I am not quite sure exactly what the Minister's answer is. Did she say there is a program? If so, what is the program to encourage chronic social assistance recipients to take some courses, become employed and become independent of social assistance?

Thank you. Would you clarify your first response, Ms. Minister?