Mr. Chairman, I can't tell Mr. Zoe how we're going to deal with them, but we will deal with them, as per my commitment, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I wanted to have an opportunity to respond because I don't like the accusation that the honourable Member has made. He has accused me of somehow not identifying projects in the other regions. The fact is, the agreement that was signed would identify a project in every region of the Northwest Territories. If the honourable Members would read the documentation, they would see that that commitment is there.

I would like to, Mr. Chairman, if I could, identify the projects for the honourable Member's sake.

(Microphone turned off)

Yes, that's what I'm talking about.

(Microphone turned off)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm fairly satisfied with the discussion that has gone on here this afternoon. I just want to reiterate that I was surprised that such an important program would have seen money diverted to whatever other cause. I guess I would have expected that the Minister of such a large department as Education, Culture and Employment might have been able to find resources within some program of that department to support the venture for the Gwich'in which, I'm sure, is worthwhile, and seems to be partly in the nature of an education project.

Mr. Chairman, all I want to say before this matter is approved -- and I think, based on Mr. Pollard's assurances, I will vote in favour of this particular part of the bill -- is that I, too, like Mr. Zoe, have been encouraging a youth group in my constituency to access the youth initiative fund. It is a group that I've spoken of in the House that has been organized as a result of concern about abuse of alcohol and drugs, and abuse of young people in my constituency. To me, this youth initiatives program was designed specifically to meet the needs of a group like the one which has been formed in Iqaluit and I would like to give the Minister notice that I, too, am hoping that some funds can be identified, provided the application meets the program criteria. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We'll try to look at those applications in a favourable light. Mr. Chairman, there seems to be some confusion that I'm caught up in with the questioning by Mr. Zoe. My response to Mr. Zoe was based on the fact that I believe he said there were some new initiatives and that someone in his constituency had applied and were told there was no money left in this particular fund. I'm saying, as with the case with Mr. Patterson, that between Education and ourselves, we will try to address those issues. Am I correct, or was there some other issue that Mr. Zoe was raising, Mr. Chairman?

Mr. Chairman, I would defer to Mr. Nerysoo on this point to see if those applications can be routed over to Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you. So there's no confusion, Mr. Chairman, I do not, as a Minister, have responsibility for youth initiatives. The request that came to me dealt with funding from the Department of Education, of which we do not have any.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This Supplementary Appropriation, No. 1 that we are going through is the only opportunity that we have as MLAs to address the decisions that were made by government through the spring and summer. This is the only public opportunity we have to address some of these items that we have concerns about. I just want to say that in this particular instance, the subject that we're talking about is the youth initiative program that is with the Department of Social Services, and $500,000 of that money has been transferred to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to do two specific projects.

I have a big concern about it as well because in previous Assemblies we have made motions and resolutions to keep that program in tact. That was the decision on this side of the House, because we feel that the youth initiatives program is very important and should remain intact. In fact, we've instructed the government to advertise it and implement it further so that the youth in the communities will know that there is funding set aside by this government and this Legislature so that they could undertake the type of projects that they themselves decide to do which would eventually help them into developing into leaders and increase their abilities to be part of society.

I just want to say that we have very good young people in all the communities. They have very good ideas and they want to do things. They have formed youth groups in a lot of the major communities, including my community of Fort Simpson. There is a youth group there and they want to do things. The idea of this funding was that this amount of money was set aside by this Legislative Assembly so that the youth would apply for it so that they could do things for themselves. When we find out that $500,000 of that money was transferred to two specific projects, I have a major concern about it. I just wanted to make sure that that funding remain in Social Services for the youth initiative program, and that youth will continue to apply for funding that was intended for them to use.

I just wanted to make a point that the government, department and Minister to take note to just leave this program alone. Don't take from it for any specific projects because you're going to find that there's going to be major opposition to this type of move against this particular program. Mahsi.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Antoine referred a couple of times to two specific projects. I don't know what the projects are under this category so, just for the record, I would ask Mr. Nerysoo if he has further information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the record and to correct the record, Mr. Chairman, the whole issue of our agreement based on an August 8, 1994 agreement with Human Resources Development Canada, was announced

that we would develop a series of projects across the Northwest Territories that would help social assistance recipients, to which I think every Member here has somehow indicated that they support because most of the people are, in fact, young people.

The other thing is that it's federally cost-shared, 50/50, with the Government of the Northwest Territories in the amounts of $2 million in 1994 and $6 million in 1995-96. The funds will be used to implement a two-year pilot project, investing in people, which was supported by that announcement and was a result of our trying to take advantage of the national strategic initiative.

The point, again, the Gwich'in work activity project was one that was submitted; it was the most detailed. The Gwich'in Tribal Council was serving Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic and Inuvik. Upgrading of 20 social assistance recipients in Aklavik, 10 from the communities of Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic and Inuvik. The work experience consists of caring for elders, office work, tourism and construction in Aklavik, and construction in the other three communities.

Kitikmeot work activity project: Kitikmeot Inuit Association; Cambridge Bay work activity was to deal with the form of community services such as recycling projects, production of saleable crafts, and an after school activity program for children and work in a second-hand store for 12 recipients.

Fort Resolution sawmill, logging work activity project: logging activity; falling techniques; and, all aspects of skidding, up to 15 participants. Sawmill work activity includes classroom instruction, work experience in bucking, scaling, sawing and planing. That's for up to 20 participants.

Hunting and land travel project; Kakivak Association in Iqaluit: classroom instruction which includes what it means to be a hunter, firearm safety, first aid, small engine repair and improvising, hunting preparation field work consisting of land skills, caribou hunts, survival skills and trapping. Meat and skins will be distributed to the community.

Southampton Island caribou project: Aviit Hunters' and Trappers' Association, classroom instruction includes tool and equipment making, caribou life-cycle and management for hunters. Field work will include participation in a caribou harvest, and training in field dressing and processing carcasses in preparation of secondary processing at the Keewatin Meat and Fish Plant in Rankin Inlet, and eventual sale.

North Slave work activity project: Rae Lakes Education Committee, Rae Lakes life skills, academic upgrading and work replacement for 12 participants.

North skills development program: Arctic College west and Arctic College east, location Deline, Tuk, Hay River, Rae, Yellowknife, Baker Lake, Arviat, Gjoa Haven, Pangnirtung and Iqaluit. Proposed budget: east, $502,901; west, $479,158.

Mr. Chairman, these are only a part of the projects. There are others that are coming in and we expect to have at least one pilot project in every region. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.