Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the government has referred to a community action fund in conjunction with the 1995-96 budget. This fund would help community groups test their ideas in making plans for community wellness initiatives. However, the government has not said where the money for the community action fund will come from.

I asked the Minister of Finance, on Friday last, why the government suggested such a plan without providing a means for funding it and without including it in the budget. While the Minister agreed that such a fund is something that the communities want to have happen, he didn't tell the House why the government hasn't identified funding for this initiative in the 1995-96 budget. Mr. Speaker, the Members of the Standing Committee on Finance and, indeed, all ordinary Members do not find this acceptable. If the government has a proposed initiative, they should tell this House where the money will come from. If the funding is not available, the initiative should not have been proposed.

The Minister of Finance said until such a time as there is an agreement on the program and where the funding comes from, it will not be brought back before the House. My response is, if there is no agreement on the program or on the source of funding, the proposal should not have been brought to the floor of the House in the first place.

I am further concerned, Mr. Speaker, by an apparent contradiction in the Minister's answers to my questions on Friday last. At one point, referring to the budget supplement document that discussed the community action plan, he told the House that he didn't consider that document to be part of the budget. However, later that day, in response to another question, he said if we can reach agreement on how to raise those funds or where to get the money from then, yes, we would propose bringing that issue back to the floor of this House and amending the budget or department somehow so that it is reflected in the 1995-96 budget.

The Government of the Northwest Territories introduced a proposed initiative which would appeal to all northerners. Yet, it was not specifically included in the budget and we don't know where the money will come from. With all the challenges, fiscal and otherwise, facing this Assembly and this government, this is not acceptable. This initiative should have been either reserved until the funding issue was resolved or included as part of the budget with some means of funding provided.

Mr. Speaker, I have run out of time. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.