Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I could write a letter indicating that the House would like me to sit down with the UNW or my staff to sit down with the UNW to discuss this, but the fact of the matter is that we have signed the collective agreement for a two year period. I do not want to pre-judge what their response would be, but I know that it was an issue discussed in the negotiations last year, and there was no agreement at that time that we should look at changes, as my honourable colleague alludes to. I will ask my staff to phone the UNW and see if there is any interest in reopening this, but in the meantime, I want to assure my colleague that we are moving forward with a job strategy that student employment is just one small component to it, in which he will have an opportunity, as other Members will in this House through committee, to give us some direction and some input into so we can finalize it as we move into the late May/June session and get along with putting some of our kids and our neighbours kids to work. Thank you.

Thank you. Honourable Members who have taken the opportunity to ask questions at this time, want to ask questions. Thank you. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have indicated to this House in the past in response to this question from the honourable Member, what we are trying to do is free up some of the financial funding from headquarters into the regions first. From there, into the community level to give the communities, whether it is at the local level or at the regional level, the means and the opportunity with having the funds to designate funding for programs whether it be at the Tl'oondih facility or other facilities that they deem fit to send their constituents, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would be hesitant to recommend anything to the communities or to the regions. I think that is the whole thrust of our empowerment initiative is to allow them the opportunity to set their own priorities. I certainly think that they would recognize firstly, the facilities and supporting institutions within their own regions before going outside, because ultimately they are accountable right at the local and regional levels, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Second supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would think that the representatives of the Gwich'in communities, representatives from the Mackenzie Delta that make up the leadership on the boards and guide their staff in forming policies and decision making, would take it upon themselves to recognize the significance of facilities, and the importance of supporting facilities within their own service area, Mr. Speaker. Needless to say, I do not think that I would impose any conditions on them, but I certainly would make it cognizant of these issues, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are aware of that. We have supported to facilitate some of the treatment centres come together and speak about their programs and try to coordinate in the past some of their programs so that they are not directly competing with each other. I think that it is incumbent on all the treatment facilities, or healing centres throughout the Northwest Territories, along with us to make individuals aware of their services that they have to offer and how they could potentially provide assistance to individuals, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I announced on that day the fact that we had decided not to go ahead with amalgamation as we had planned. That there was no further development of amalgamation planned. However, I did say and I will say again, that I feel that it is my responsibility and every Minister's that we keep looking inwards to make sure our departments are as efficient as possible. That is what I said and that is what I meant.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I am led to believe that the original plan is not going ahead, and now we are coming up with another plan. Is that the case? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.