Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member well knows, the aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories -- especially those in the Western Arctic -- raised many concerns in the previous consultation rounds of the northern accord with the previous government. The number one issue of process is to meet with our aboriginal partners and start talking to them and addressing the concerns they had with this government taking control of northern resources and putting them in the hands of northern people. In talks I've had with aboriginal groups or aboriginal leaders, what I find is that the majority are in agreement with having northern control of northern resources in the hands of northerners; it's just how we reach those agreements that is yet to be figured out. We were waiting until the Aboriginal Summit had their leadership meeting here in this great hall. They've had that now, and fairly soon we'll be corresponding with them to see what direction we're going to take as a government to move ahead to get northern control of northern resources in northerners' hands. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the youth inhalant abuse treatment program funding agreement will expire on June 30, 1996. This program serves the entire NWT and it targets Inuit and aboriginal youth between the ages of 12 and 17. Currently, Mr. Speaker, there is a waiting list of 10 youth who have been referred from across

the Territories. My question is for the Minister of Health. Has this government reviewed this most-needed program to ensure funding will continue and that the program will not close on June 30th? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're aware of the termination of funding by Health Canada on this youth solvent abuse program. At this time, we're reviewing some of the options within the department to see about the possibilities of maintaining it. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this very important program funding will close on June 30th, which is a short six weeks away. I wonder if the Minister can tell us what the early indications are of getting the funding necessary to continue in this program.

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it wouldn't be gaining funding to fund the program, it would be looking at reallocating resources from the existing departmental budget. One of the things we're looking at is exactly how much money is currently being spent for sending adolescents down south for the same type of program, to be able to sustain a program within the Northwest Territories or the possibility of diverting some money from some of the adult programs to make sure that this funding is available for the others. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Minister of Health is looking at it to make sure that this program continues. What's the percentage of the costshared factor of this program with the federal government? Is it cost-shared 60/40, or 70/30 or is it 100 per cent funded by the territorial government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from my understanding, this is a 100 per cent federal

program as it stands now. It is a pilot project that was initiated in March of 1993. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. The honourable Minister Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure if I understood the question correctly, but the funding formula is based on an average of several prior years of funding that the association had received from the corporation.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen, supplementary.

Thank you. Honourable Minister Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, the way the deficit funding arrangement worked is that the associations were reimbursed for the costs they incurred, and that any savings that were different from previous year's costs were returned to the Housing Corporation. I am not exactly sure of the answer to the question, so I can get that information and get back to the Member.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.