Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Roland.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, there would be components within the alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs to address youth treatment. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a commitment was made by the 12th Assembly to commit funds to spousal assault homes to increase the wages of the workers there. As we all know, Mr. Speaker, they're under a lot of stress. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Has he looked at any type of plan to remunerate these people, Mr. Speaker, in the current budget?

Just to remind the Member that this is the 13th Assembly and what was committed during the 12th Assembly doesn't necessarily apply to this Assembly. I would like to ask the honourable Member if he would rephrase his question to the Minister.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I apologize to the honourable Member. It's true, that was a black hole period.

--- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the honourable Minister of Health and Social Services. Has the Minister looked at increasing the remuneration for our front-line workers in spousal assault homes who have not had a raise in several years; and I know because my wife works there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Laughter

Thank you. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department funds various organizations who carry out those types of initiatives. It is up to the local groups who are operating those violence shelters or those treatment facilities to determine what they pay their employees. Thank you.

Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I should qualify my last statement by saying my wife has been on maternity leave for several months and isn't currently working.

--- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I know that a lot of these organizations haven't had any increases in their core funding for several years. They haven't kept up with the rate of inflation. Mr. Speaker, it's a very serious matter because those homes have a hard time getting people to work there because of the remuneration rates. My question to the Minister, Mr. Speaker: Can he give a commitment to this House that he will look at this personally and see if there's something that we can do for these very valuable people who are working at the front lines in our communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the concerns that the honourable Member has brought forward, particularly related to funding for non-government organizations. It is apparent that they may not have been funded to the levels that they wanted and in these fiscal times, of course, the possibility of significant increases or even any increases is probably, I would say, remote and not likely. However, I will take a look at the matter because the honourable Member has brought it up. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. I would like to remind the Members that today is Tommy Enuaraq's birthday. Happy birthday. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Todd.

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 16-13(3), Government of the Northwest Territories, 1994-95 Annual Report on Official Languages.

If I may, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 17-13(3), Canada/NWT Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages in the NWT, the Final Activity Report for 1994-95. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Antoine.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table Tabled Document 18-13(3), The Northwest Territories Liquor Commission, 41st Annual Report. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Ootes.

Item 13, tabling of documents.

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.