Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The record and honourable history of the friendship centres are very clear and undeniable across Canada. Part of that comes from the contribution of the Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre in Fort Smith which is a long running institution that has had the benefit of a very good board and management, over the many years they have been in existence, allowing them to deliver critical programs in the community within their budget. As well, they have developed the skills over the years to be very effective in going after third party funding, Mr. Speaker.
Very clearly in Fort Smith, the Friendship Centre has become one of the major players in the inter-agency group that delivers and oversees programs in the community. They, as well, have suffered over the years from budget cuts, reductions to core funding, cutbacks in other areas through Health and Social Services. It is going to be critical that the communities, through the health board of management and the department work with the friendship centres, not only in Fort Smith but across the north, to try to come to a greater and more formal work relationship that recognizes the contribution of friendship centres and could, hopefully, in the not too distant future, deal with issues like core funding for northern friendship centres, as we are one of the only jurisdictions that in fact do not provide core funding. So I, as well, would like to pay my tribute and compliments to the friendship centres across the north and, of course, specifically to the one in Fort Smith, which is a very, very important organization in our community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause