Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Family support, $2.98 million. The chair recognizes the Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you. Mr. Chairman, this is in relation to the question asked by my colleague with regard to Greenway Holdings. I realize that this special investigation has taken place and a report has been completed. Is this issue dead now between our government and the proponent that has been identified in the supp, or are there other dealings that are currently under way with our government? Is this over and done with? It's a dead issue now, is that the case, Mr. Chairman? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Family support, $2.98 million.

Thank you. Community

development, $580,000.

Not previously authorized, negative $151,000. The chair recognizes Mr. Dent, then Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, one of the items that is part of this negative $151,000 is a negative $500,000 to transfer funding from the youth initiatives program to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Chairman, I think that a lot of Members will have concerns about this.

The youth initiatives program was one of those few government programs that I think had extremely broad support by ordinary Members in this House. I think that this government has come under serious criticism in the past for not ensuring that the public was aware of the youth initiatives program and ensuring that funds were not lapsed. There has been an awful lot of criticism for the amount of funds which have lapsed in this program every year, at least since I've been elected and I expect it went on before that.

Mr. Chairman, when we travelled with the Special Committee on Health and Social Services, we found an awful lot of people in the communities who are unaware of this program. And I know of situations where after, as a committee Member, I made people aware of the program's existence that they made application and were successful in getting funding. I don't believe an adequate publicity program was ever entered into by this government to ensure that the people of the north knew of the availability of the youth initiatives program. I am very concerned that because it has been lapsing funds in the past, that this was seen as an area from which funds could be taken for another project.

I'm not trying to say that the pilot project to which these funds are being transferred is not worthwhile, I don't know enough about that project to make that assessment. But I do think that what the youth initiatives program was intended to accomplish was a very important goal, and I'm very disturbed to see the reduction in the youth initiatives program funding. I would much rather have seen all of the funds being spent, but I think the only way that was going to happen would be if this government got busy and made sure that people across the north knew how to apply to use those funds. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Minister Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I welcome that offer. I have a question that relates to a further concern.

In the explanation provided to the Standing Committee on Finance when this was questioned after our meeting, the Minister advised that almost all of the $337,000 that remains with the Department of Health and Social Services for the youth initiatives program has been committed to a variety of one-time-only community projects focusing on youth.

My concern, Mr. Chairman, is what happens now for the balance of the year? Does that mean that no further community projects can be considered? Because if so, I think we have a big problem here. I want the Minister's commitment that if further applications are received by Health and Social Services, and if they seem to be worthwhile projects, that we will see a further supp in February to ensure that adequate funding is allowed for these programs to be undertaken during the balance of this year.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Minister Pollard.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. The chair will now recognize the Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Minister Nerysoo. The chair continues to recognize Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a final comment. Without having had a briefing on the pilot project, specifically the Gwich'in and Arctic College's pilot projects under investing

in people pilot project, it's difficult to know exactly what this money is now going to go towards. The Minister has just indicated that it's typically to deal with employment-type programs, and since these are often aimed at youth, that is one of the rationales that was used for transferring the funds.

The youth initiatives funding was intended for projects which were initiated by youth, and the goal here was to promote youth leadership, awareness and involvement in healthy and culturally-relevant lifestyles and activities with a focus that was alcohol and drug free.

It seems now, to me -- and, again, I don't have the benefit of a detailed briefing on the pilot project -- that there has been a subtle shift in what those dollars are being used for. I think that Members of this Legislature are very, very strongly onside with what the goals of the youth initiative program were. So, I think it's very, very important that we ensure there are adequate funds to carry applications if they do come forward for the balance of this year.

I've heard Mr. Nerysoo say that he recognizes there may be a need to find some funds if applications come forward. But, Mr. Chairman, he is not the Minister responsible for the youth initiatives program. I would like to ask the Minister, or at least the acting Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, if there is a commitment that we will ensure that this program is not effectively killed by not having any further funds for it this year.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Minister of Finance for that commitment. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.