Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as the former chairman of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services, I rise today to welcome the government response to the recommendations made by that committee. That document, called Renewed Partnerships, was tabled yesterday. Madam Speaker, I only briefly reviewed the document but it appears to represent, at least to me, a significant improvement to what I've seen as previous responses to committee reports.
I note it is organized around themes and, in general, it appears to respond in a thoughtful and generally favourable manner to the recommendations made by the committee. In particular, I welcome the agreement to amalgamate the departments of Health and Social Services. I am also very pleased to hear that a community-based mental health pilot project will take place in the Inuvik region in 1994-95. I think it's important to note that the government plans to develop agreements to set up early intervention services for children and another plan for services to elders and the handicapped. Madam Speaker, these are long overdue.
We need more detail on many of the responses and I'm sure the government will have to answer many questions in the House on their response. But, it does appear to represent a positive outlook on dealing with the very important issues highlighted by the final report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services. Madam Speaker, I hope we can all work together to make sure that both the final report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services and the government response are more than just words and reports, but the key to real action in dealing with the important health and social problems in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.