Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. For obvious reasons, I'm very pleased with the capital plan of this restructured department of Health and Social Services. The departments have, in their good wisdom, included several projects that are urgently required in Inuvik. They were mentioned in the Minister's opening remarks. The hospital, the need for which I've been raising since I've been in this House, seriously needs to be looked at, and the planning is well under way.
Also, the group home for handicapped adults -- and when we get to that specific page, I'll be asking questions on that project -- is one that fits in with the policy of repatriating people from the south to northern institutions. Also in the plans is money for an alcohol and drug centre in Inuvik. That has to be seriously considered in view of the problems we have with alcohol and drug abuse in the north.
The one caution I would like to make is that it is really imperative in doing major project planning, that we get as much local and community input in the planning phases and, eventually, in the design phases of these projects. Without community and local support, we always seem to run into problems and we are always backtracking. I would like to say thank you to the departments for the work they've done and for listening to the concerns of the residents of Inuvik and for including the projects in the plan.
As always, though, there is something missing. I've listened very carefully to the questions and statements made by my colleagues from other communities about the need for elders' residences. The people in Inuvik are no different. There has been a needs study done; an assessment of the requirements of our senior citizens in Inuvik and I think the numbers warrant careful consideration. Eventually, we have to look at something for that community. Within the region, itself, there are a lot of elders and I think we have to look at the needs of the regions and determine the best possible locations for elders' centres.
But, generally, I'm pleased with the work the department has done in terms of capital planning and I want to say, again, mahsi cho.