I believe, Mr. Chairman, that when the community needs assessment is done, at that time, the question is asked of the community elders how it is that they see a support system for themselves. And at that time there is an explanation of home care. I know the reason I suggest that has probably been done in other cases, because I know in the communities I represent, that is indeed part of the discussion when you're doing the community needs assessment.

I think that I can concur with Mr. Dent that, by and large, people want to stay in their own homes. What I would like to see, in this particular case, is that when the architectural design is being done, that it does reflect, not necessarily an institutional facility, but more elders' housing, with a component that is not necessarily as extensive as we have put in other communities, so that it does not become a facility that is too dramatic a move from the small units elders are used to.

I hope we can address that in the architectural design, so we don't overbuild, overextend and provide a facility that really isn't taking care of the needs of elders in a community.

I know the ballpark figures range from $350,000 to $400,000, depending on the type of facility we are going to be providing. If we provide a facility that is an elders' facility with a small home care component and sitting room, it probably wouldn't be as extensive as some of the homes we are providing now, which are more long-term care programs that require a larger number of people to look after the facility. I will provide those figures, as we break them down.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to clarify, for the record, that elders' residences are just defined as that. The detail of care that is provided in these residences, as the Minister just spoke about, is not usually noted. There are different levels of care in elders' residences. I'm not sure about the one designated for Gjoa Haven, but the ones in Coppermine and Cambridge Bay that my elders have personally requested are ones that are more basic seniors' housing, where there is minimal, if any, extended care provided.

I said in my statement previously that home care is still something that is supported in these communities for elders and others who are debilitated and can't get out of their homes. I just wanted to clarify that, first.

Secondly, for the record, when I first learned of the deletion of the Gjoa Haven residence -- which affected the Kitikmeot because there is no form of elders' support at all in the whole region -- I seriously considered putting forward a motion for deletion of the Fort Resolution and Fort Norman elders' residences. The way I perceived it, it was unfair of the government. It may have been coincidence, but these are two Ministers' ridings and the needs of their constituents were being addressed while the needs of a have-not region, the Kitikmeot -- which has always been a have-not region -- were being neglected again.

I discussed the matter with my colleague, Mr. Ningark, who felt that his concern about the Gjoa Haven deletion was being addressed. He had met with the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Minister of Housing and had been reassured that things would be addressed satisfactorily and that they would do all they could to try to reinstate this. Yesterday, during question period, Mr. Ningark again asked Madam Premier who, again, said she would make every effort to make a positive response to the needs of Gjoa Haven. That was one of the reasons.

The second, most important, reason I decided not to pursue a motion of deletion of these other items is that I didn't feel it would be proper for me to affect elders in Fort Resolution and Fort Norman, not knowing how elders there felt about these facilities. I can only relate to the people I talk to and represent in my constituency. That is the second reason I decided not to put forward a deletion motion.

But, for the record, since I haven't asked the Minister of Health and Social Services about this issue, I would like to ask her whether or not she is going to commit to addressing the need for elders' residences in the Kitikmeot as a priority, first in Gjoa Haven because of the deletion of the capital project in that constituency and, second, for the people in my constituency -- the western part of the Kitikmeot -- who have put forward requests. The Minister has acknowledged that she is aware of these requests, so I would like to ask her now whether she is going to commit to addressing these as a priority. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I believe I said that we would, on a couple of occasions. Again, we are fully committed to dealing with Gjoa Haven as a priority issue because it was in the capital budget and it was taken out. The information that is coming out of Gjoa Haven is the type of facility they want can be realized by readjusting some of the other program areas we have already. I've committed to deal with that particular situation and, as well, to try to get some planning in place for the rest of the Kitikmeot. I've made that commitment already, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. I would like to thank the Minister for that. The second issue then, in the same category since we're dealing with it, deals with the alcohol and drug treatment centres that are in this capital plan. There is one in Inuvik and one in Rankin. Again, the Kitikmeot hasn't been addressed in the five-year plan that I've had the opportunity to see. I would like to ask what the plans are in relation to that area?

Is it planned that the region will continue to be serviced out of Yellowknife and other points further south; or, are there long-term plans for assessment of alcohol and drug treatment needs in our region? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, for some reason I don't know why there has been consistent omission of the Kitikmeot region's support program systems. It is an issue that hasn't been focused on during the last four or five years. Unfortunately, we didn't deal with them when there were federal funds available. That's when we should have been on the mark and running with cost-shared programs.

We'll look at that particular need. I know right now, in terms of alcohol and drug treatment centres, most of them are centred around the southern Mackenzie area. Part of the reason that happened is there were a lot more people actively pursuing funding when the dollars were available from the federal government. This wasn't done in the Kitikmeot area. I know we have to address the outstanding issues. How we deal with it, I had hoped we would be able to discuss items like that at the Kitikmeot regional health meetings coming up very soon; in November.

I was just finishing off, Mr. Chairman. I think that the program areas for Kitikmeot have to be dealt with. We have to do that, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, on the issue of a facility for elders versus home care. When we travel to different communities in the NWT, we hear elders talk about being subject to abuse financially by their own family members in some cases. Mr. Chairman, we also hear from the elders that sometimes it's very difficult to go to places if you want to go shopping, go to church and so on, Mr. Chairman. In some cases, we hear that people are living in overcrowded homes. We also hear elders telling us that sometimes they are subjected to babysitting members of their family. Mr. Chairman, sometimes, in some cases, elders may be subjected to a member of the family drinking excessively. That was never brought up, but that was not to say it never happened. Mr. Chairman, some elders may be subjected to a lot of noise in their homes because they're living with family members.

I think having an elders' facility in the community whereby elders could stay together and live together; perhaps play cards together; go on picnics; and, if there is a way we could provide a vehicle for them, they could go to church together. By living with the other elders in the community, being active may, in fact, help them to live a better life. Thank you.

Mahsi. I agree. I just want to raise some concerns on the adults' handicap group home. The project is supposed to be under construction now. Due to various incidents and planning, the project has been delayed. This is one that is sponsored by the department and turned over to Public Works who, I assume, had hired the designer, and things have since gone awry in the design. The current design of the facility is considerably over budget, from the numbers in the book here.

So I would just like to ask the Minister what is happening now in the planning and designing of this facility.