Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Mr. Speaker, I did not get that answer. The Keewatin pilot project is the responsibility of MACA. I am asking the Minister of MACA, will she meet with the Education Boards of Nunavut to discuss their concerns? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have already done that in partnership with Education, Culture and Employment at the senior levels. The department heads and the board chairpersons were here last week to meet with my department which was coordinated by the Education, Culture and Employment Department . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What has MACA done after they heard their concerns? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I heard the presentations went really well and that the education boards understood what the initiative was about. We are doing everything we can to assist them in any way if they are not well informed on this issue. I was also talking with Joe Attagutaluk, the board chairperson for Baffin. I will be going to the Baffin to their meeting on behalf of MACA in regard to community empowerment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to his Minister's statement today. Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated that the rate of the population growth is slowly coming down, but that current rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases needs more work. I would like to know if the Minister can indicate what are the current teen rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases? Does it indicate higher or lower sexual activity concerning teens in relation to the past? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not have the specifics on the actual rates per se, but we recognize that it is a problem area which needs to be addressed. The boards are aware of that as well, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have thought the department would know whether the rates are getting higher or lower in relation to the work they are doing. However, could the Minister elaborate on what has been done in the past to lower teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, primarily as it stands now, a lot of programs are designed for the schools through the boards. The programs, primarily in the primary schools and the high schools as far as sex education and family education, the intent is to try to get more of the

health personnel involved. In some of those instances, to integrate some of the programs by having health centre staff involved in delivering some of those programs in the education system, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister indicate what they are going to do differently? It seems to me, from looking at various information that I have seen, the rates are not going down.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think primarily, it is trying to put more of an emphasis and focus in that area by allowing, in the example of this Strategic Initiative Fund, to allow some resources to be available. You can dedicate more individuals or programs if it is required as far as literature or that kind of information to be available and accessible. It is more in trying to strengthen the existing programs and create more of a focus on those programs, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had indicated he did not have on hand the knowledge of whether sexual activity is actually increasing or decreasing. Could the Minister undertake to find out that information and to relay that to this House before we leave? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will try to have that information by the time our budget comes forward, if it happens to be this month. Thank you.