Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The area I would like to cover is the $3.7 million from the Department of Health and Social Services to provide funding for a one-time start-up cost.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The question deals with the $3.7 million that the Department of Health and Social Services are providing for a one-time start up cost and prorated annual operating cost, which I understand is to be $2.9 million per year for moving to a primary care health service delivery model in Yellowknife. This includes assuming the leases for four medical clinics, purchase of the assets of these clinics, implementing new physicians' contracts, and funding for additional support administrative staff at the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board and the four clinics.

I would like to congratulate the government on negotiating the $4 million from the federal government as part of the Canada Health and Social Transfer Agreement.

My question is, I understand that some of these physicians will be going to the communities to provide health care to members of those communities outside of Yellowknife. My question is, I sure would like to know which community the government is going to start negotiating on behalf with the federal government to provide health, and a list of those communities in order of when they will start negotiating. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is confusing to me as the Minister referred in his opening remarks on the Canada Health and Social Transfer Agreement and the formula that was associated with that agreement, to this $3.7 million expenditure in Yellowknife. Maybe it is a problem with the wording, I am not sure, but my understanding was that it has always been that if we agree with any financial agreements with the federal government to transfer money to the Northwest Territories Government, it falls under general revenues and from those general revenues, it gets disbursed. However, in his opening comments, he referred to a $3.7 million for the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board and that $3.7 million is coming from that recent agreement with the federal government with the Canada Health and Social Transfer Agreement.

On top of that, it is a $2.9 million incremental cost to this government to operate those clinics, while we have health boards and social services boards at the regional and community level throughout the Northwest Territories. I do not think they receive those kinds of funding or special agreements with the federal government to provide community health boards. I am just wondering is that a typo? Is it a mistake in the wording, or is that the future direction of this government? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess you can understand my concern when I am reading the Minister's opening statement and he is referring to a $3.7 million donation or money that the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board needs and the Government of the Northwest Territories provides $3.7 million to that said board, and at the same time refer to the recent agreement of $4 million transferred from the federal government. It is just too close to accept that. If it was coming from the general revenue fund then that is not a problem. Yellowknife does need its services and the leasing of old buildings and what not, those are other areas of questions.

As long as it is not coming directly from this agreement, I do not have problem with it; but the way it is worded, Mr. Chairman, I have a problem with that.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The prorated ongoing cost of this agreement, is that covered under the $3.7 million or is that outside of the $3.7 million? Thank you.

$1.9 million per year, Mr. Chairman, or that total cost of this agreement?