Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister for MACA just made a statement concerning the Yellowknife Women's Centre. I too had the pleasure of attending the recent re-opening of the centre which underwent extensive renovations following a flood last summer. While I was there, I spoke extensively with the staff. The centre is a non-profit organization established by the Yellowknife Women's Society in 1990. Women and their families are welcome to use the centre's programs. Their services include: soup kitchen; emergency food bank; donated clothing and furniture depots; and kitchen, shower, laundry facilities. They also provide programs of advocacy and support services, family support services, lifeskills, literacy, parenting classes, nutritional counselling, and support to new and expecting mothers. Mr. Speaker, the centre is also used as an emergency shelter. All programs and services are free. I must stress that most clients are low income women and their families from the communities, not people from Yellowknife. These are people who are either passing through or have moved to Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, there are problems. The centre is run out of a house which has been converted to an office building. They receive program funding from the federal and territorial governments, but the money is simply not enough. They have to rely on donations from people like the Yellowknife Dene Bands, from the Yellowknife businesses, also from their own fund raising activities, and through the efforts of volunteers and staff. I have been informed that many of the staff are paid part-time wages but they work full time and even more, putting more hours than a regular full time position would do. As I indicated, the building is simply not big enough. There are over 100 people using the centre each day. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.