Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I would like to congratulate the Gwich'in for starting their healing program and their centre, and for establishing it using a lot of their own money. I would like to indicate that I am also on the Social Programs committee and we have already worked on the budget and there is only a certain amount of money that is in this area. Considering the fact that there is
already existing government-funded institutions that have already lost some funding and considering the fact that they use solvent abuse programs -- that is, in Yellowknife but which services all of the Northwest Territories and is already in serious difficulty and funds have to be found elsewhere -it isn't the right time to look at providing similar funding to this institution.
I do support its work, but I don't think we have the resources to do this. If money is to be diverted to this institution, it would mean that the other existing institutions would have to lose some funding. So it is very difficult for me to do this. I would have certainly preferred to have more time to think about such a very important motion. Knowing what I know about the process we have gone through, it is very difficult for me to support this. For such an important thing, we should have been given more warning and had more time to consider this. I am a great proponent of this type of rehabilitation, but it places me in a very difficult situation, Mr. Chairman. I want to support this but I also know there are limited funds and I don't wish to take funds from already existing government programs like rehabilitation centres.
I just wanted to express that it places me, and several other people who also feel that this is a worthwhile cause and a worthwhile project, in a very difficult situation. Perhaps we could have more warning next time so we could discuss it more fully and with more thought without having to vote in a short time period. Thank you.