The truth is, it is a budget that any reasonable caring steward of the public purse would have brought down. We have better things to do with our federal transfers and revenues than allowing them to be consumed by interest in what could have been an ever compounding burden of debt. Returning to the focus of my remarks.

In my opinion, it is more than population growth that is causing 40 percent forced growth in the social program costs. In some areas I believe the problems are getting worse, not diminishing. It is not the job, the mandate or even within the ability of this government to solve all of the problems. It is possible to live in a community like Hay River or Yellowknife and be relatively unaffected by, or immune to the social problems afflicting our people. For many years I went my happy way quite oblivious to another side of my community until one day I got the bright idea to manage the Hay River group home. That brought me right up close to the affects of dysfunctional relationships, alcoholism, abuse, neglect and so on. Incidentally, those were the happiest and hardest two years of my working life.

Ironically the fiscal restrictions might present opportunities for people to return to the kind of community that had to address social issues before there was a government program and resources to address every problem. Maybe it will necessitate the renewal of community and individual empowerment, the kind of sharing that was required for basic survival. Although lives may not be threatened by starvation today, the threat to survival from suicide and substance abuse is just as real. There are unlimited opportunities to participate individually or collectively in an effort to meet the needs in our communities. Meals on wheels, classroom assistants, service clubs, sponsorship or coaching minor recreation leagues, block parents and the list goes on and on.

My colleague for Yellowknife North tirelessly makes it his duty to participate in fund raising causes which require our participation by sponsoring him with our pledges. These things are all good, but I dare say we could all do more. By example and encouragement, perhaps we could tap as yet an untapped resource out there who could help us address our social problems. Helping others is a great cure for boredom, loneliness and lack of purpose. We need to take a look at how we treat and perceive people in our society who are on the front lines. Do we say that is the teacher's job, that's the social worker's job, that is the women's shelters worker's job?

Addressing all the needs in our communities is not the sole responsibility of our women's shelters, foster parents, social workers, drug and alcohol counsellors and teachers. Do we offer support and encouragement or do we just load them up with cases, work them hard, burn them out and throw them away? How many people have experienced opening their homes or extending their families, like my honourable colleague from Yellowknife South, to have people look at them like they have taken leave of their senses? We should be putting them on a pedestal, holding them up as examples of leadership. It would behoove this government to recognize the ones who are in the trenches so to speak a little more than what we do.

We all need to become activists in our community, visiting our schools, correctional facilities, and hospitals more frequently. We need to recognize the profound impact that we could have on the lives of future leaders. It does not take much to show that we care about our youth. Let us find little ways of showing our frontline workers as well that we as a government appreciate what they are doing.

Call me an idealist, but I believe there is a bright future for the north. We are a small group by any standard. We as political leaders must do our part. But what we make of our lives, our communities, our schools, our work place, our home is not up to the government. It is up to each one of us. Everyone can contribute in their own way.

If you are a teacher or an inmate in a correctional facility, you can make a choice to make a difference where you are. It is a matter of choices. When it comes to our social problems, you are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem. Our budget this fiscal year, and in years to come, cannot continue to cope with our social challenges unless changes are made. But if we, as leaders, can lead by example and motivate others to do the same, I do believe there is hope. Thank you.

-- Applause