(Microphone turned off)

Mr. Gargan.

Before we conclude this item, can I make a comment?

Thank you. Recommendation 2, in the form of a motion, was carried. If the Member for Deh Cho has any further comments to the report, Mr. Gargan, you can do so.

Can I ask, Mr. Chairman, then, that we go to page 18, strategic management?

Point of order.

Mr. Pudluk.

Point Of Order

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am thanking you for remembering my name. The vote has been taken. I think the procedure is the Member has to ask for unanimous consent to go back to that item.

Agreed.

Thank you. When I indicated that recommendation 2 in the form of a motion was passed and carried, I did ask Mr. Gargan if he wanted to speak to the report. He has the floor. I didn't hear Mr. Gargan say that he wanted to go back to the motion on recommendation 2. Mr. Pudluk, you don't have a point of order. Mr. Gargan.

---Laughter

He challenges you.

Mr. Chairman, there were general comments made on the report itself, Investing in Our Future, but with regard to the motion itself, Mr. Zoe made an amendment to the motion. I didn't get a chance to say anything before Mr. Zoe made that amendment, and right after the amendment was made, the motion was amended. I don't remember, Mr. Chairman, you saying, did we have any general comments regarding the recommendation, or did you say anything?

---Laughter

Thank you. I indicated the motion was in order. I also indicated to the motion, and prior to that no one indicated they wanted to speak to the motion. I heard Members calling for question. That is when I said, "all those in favour?" Thank you. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. I will go very slow. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour of the motion, please signify. Opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am dealing with recommendation 4 which is on page 27 of our report. It deals with family violence. I move that the committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories assesses spending priorities and current initiatives, and based on that assessment, develop a plan to deal with early intervention services for special needs children, a school-based youth service program and family violence. The goal of the plan is to focus on long-term investments in the people of the Northwest Territories. The committee further recommends that the plan be initiated and implemented during the final year of the government's term. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Recommendation 4, in the form of a motion, is in order. To the motion. Mr. Gargan.

I wanted to ask the chairman why there is a motion at this time, since there is now a federal initiative for social reform? They talk about programs that would develop training for people on social assistance and services for youth. Are we jumping ahead of ourselves? I would like to ask the chairman of Standing Committee on Finance this question.

I think the federal government is going in this direction. I don't know how you would accomplish this task without new expenditures being made, in turn contributing to the deficit.

Thank you. Mr. Gargan, we are dealing with a motion on page 27, recommendation 4. I wasn't clear whether or not you were speaking to the motion. Will you clarify that, please?

Mr. Chairman, I wanted to get some clarification since there is now a national direction that the federal government is going in. I am saying that under the social reform program, the federal government is looking at changing social assistance so that training is also a part of it. I'm just saying that this motion reflects that direction. We are looking at a recommendation that the federal government is already working on. I'm wondering whether or not we are jumping ahead of ourselves, by supporting such a motion.

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Mr. Gargan, I think you are referring to social reform. This motion specifically deals with special needs, family violence and so on. To the motion, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. The Member for Deh Cho is asking the chairman of SCOF this question, I believe, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the Standing Committee on Finance, this recommendation is a specific recommendation directing the government to develop a plan to deal with early intervention services for special needs children, a school-based youth program and family violence. He mentioned that it is going to cost extra money. However, the goal is to focus on the long-term investment of people. If we deal with and focus on children at the early stage, hopefully in their later lives, they won't get into social problems. It is a long-term investment in people.

The rationale for this motion is in the document. We indicated that the Department of Justice is preparing a declaration on family violence. They are developing and tabling a strategy for dealing with violence. We were very disappointed during our review that no new resources have been allocated to ensure that the goals set out in this declaration become a reality. What we are, in fact, doing here is suggesting to the government that they key in on these three initiatives. We have identified the three initiatives because the government hasn't come forward with any.

We are suggesting they look at these three areas because we feel it is very important to deal with youth today and allocate resources to them in the 1995-96 O and M budget. That way, we will know for sure there is something there to help the youth.

I know there is a federal government initiative, but I don't think we are getting ahead of ourselves. I think, in fact, we are catching up to what we should have been doing all along, and that is working with the future of the north, our youth.