Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the package that has been prepared by the UNW, for it's members, is going out as we speak. We have very little input into that package; that's a UNW presentation. What I have seen of it, it is advocating a no vote. I want to be clear, a no vote means a strike vote. There is no other money in the package. We've made that clear to the UNW and I've tried to be consistent on that issue. So it's our responsibility --the FMBS and this Cabinet --to ensure that there's balanced discussion and balanced information provided so that the members can make an informed decision without any undue persuasion either way. Our position will be to provide people with as much detail as to what the package is, to explain how it fits into the overall deficit elimination strategy and to explain the ramifications if we don't get people's cooperation in doing same. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the event of a strike, what kind of pay would the strikers receive?

Mr. Todd.

I can assure my honourable colleague they won't receive any from this government if they're on strike, because that's just simply not on. I don't have the details of the strike pay, but it's certainly significantly less than they currently get in the collective agreement. I don't have the actual numbers on this, Mr. Speaker, but it's a fraction of what we're all currently earning.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the union executive be affected similarly? Would they receive a fraction of their current wages if there's a strike?

Mr. Todd.

I would think paid employees of the union would probably continue with full pay, but I would have to double-check that. I believe that there is provision within the agreement where we've negotiated with the union on what we call the essential services. I understand in the

agreement that the people who are designated as "essential services' will have to contribute, I believe, 30 or 35 per cent of their pay to the strike fund. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Speaker, there has also been some concern that this government would take away the wages of people, even if they do work. But I think this may be a misunderstanding. Would the government be doing that or would the union be doing something like that? I just had a concern relayed earlier today.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my understanding --and I qualify that by saying I stand to be corrected --that those who are designated as essential services and go to work have to contribute to the strike fund 30 or 35 per cent of their wages. This is under the rules, policies and procedures, et cetera; it is negotiated. Those who are working would get their paycheque but they would have to contribute to the UNW strike fund 30 or 35 per cent. I believe that is how the rules of the policy exist.

The other point I believe that was addressed, and has been addressed on a number of occasions, can people then apply for income support; welfare. The answer is no.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been having discussions with Health Canada officials. They are willing to look at funding the program until the end of September. So from their anticipated June 30th cut-off, they will fund it for an additional three months. Our Department of Health and Social Services is now looking at funding the program from October to the end of March, so we can get it through the end of this current fiscal year, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank you, Mr. Minister, for that positive response. Given that funding will be available through the federal or territorial governments, will the Minister consider opening this program to all youth of the Northwest Territories; aboriginal and non-aboriginal?

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the portion that is currently funded from Health Canada is specific to aboriginal youth under their initiative, so we would have no say in that because that funding would go directly to Northern Addictions Services up until the end of September. However, once our department's funding was to kick into place --and, of course, that funding is available to all residents of the Northwest Territories --the treatment programs would be available to all people. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's two. Third one. I'm doing well, I think. That program is youth solvent abuse. Would the Minister consider extending that to drug and alcohol addiction, also, for the youth of the Northwest Territories; at least the portion of the time when the funding kicks in from the GNWT? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.