Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman I would just like to refresh the Premier on the options that were presented. What we said basically was this, while the work of the special advisor on women's issues is important, the Members consider the work done by the Status of Women Council, the Natives Women's Association and the other to be even more important to the north and northerners. During the renewal of the draft business plans in October, the Committee did suggest another option for this reduction in funding.

The Committee suggested cutting the grants by only 5 percent instead of 10 percent. We did not say get rid of the special advisor on women's issues which is attached to the Minister. What we did say was, cut the grant by 5 percent instead of 10 percent and make up the difference by reducing the position of special advisor, which is a position at the Cabinet, to a half-time position. However, the Premier chose not to accept that recommendation, so we went with two other recommendations, two more options for the Premier. We said that Committee members would rather see the work not being cut out of these important organizations and be hindered by the 10 percent cut so the Standing Committee therefore offered two more suggestions and they were: number 1, leaving the grants unchanged, cancelling the 10 percent cut and eliminate the position of the special advisor entirely. The Minister responsible for the Status of Women could then be advised directly, Mr. Chairman, directly by the boards and the executive directors of the Women's Association. The second option we gave the Premier was that the special advisor would work with the Status of Women Council. The special advisor could then continue to advise the Premier and the Minister, but her services could also assist the Council sufficiently to ease the effects of the 10 percent cut in grant funding. None of those options were accepted, and therefore, as Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, I support the motion of Member Groenewegen, who is a Member of that committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.