Thank you Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure over the years how much money has been spent in total supporting these industries and trying to get them going, but I can tell you about the case of Dene Fur Clouds in Fort Providence, as one example. That is the one situation where one of the major supporters decided that she does not want to be part of it anymore so she is selling back her shares. At the same time, we have spent money having a business consultant work with the community to come up with a new plan. There is also a conversion from basically a lot of hand work to doing more machine manufacturing. That is being done jointly with the community. The Northwest Territories Development Corporation is very aware of this and are including this in their considerations as they put together their corporate plan for the upcoming year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

I believe in this industry, as in others, there is a need for a plan. With some of these companies closing down, it has affected the trappers, and it was an area that we were hoping to tap into. I would like to ask the Minister if he is planning to develop a long-term strategy for the fur industry over the next couple of years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we have been working on an overall fur value-added strategy for several years now. We continue to work with it as we look at restructuring the Dene Fur Clouds plant in Fort Providence. We are working closely with the agency that is marketing our fur out of Montreal. We are also working with a Montreal fur designer who has had experience internationally. As I say, we have challenges because there are other countries that manufacture fur products at much lower wage levels and are experienced. They have been doing it for years, they have their own designs, they have their own market. We have to build up that market as well. Yes, we are working on an overall strategy for a value-added fur industry for the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services and they are in regard to the issue of the disabled. Could the Minister indicate, now that the needs assessment for the disabled has been done and given to her, what plans the department has in terms of trying to assist the Northwest Territories Society for the Disabled and all the communities with disabled people, to better meet the needs of their constituents? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is the intent of the department, along with Education, Culture and Employment, to take the Northwest Territories Needs Assessment of Persons with Disabilities survey and to use it as a tool for planning to provide the best services we can, along with all of the various NGOs who are also involved in providing support and services to persons with disabilities. It will be helpful information to us as we try to determine what some of the emerging trends are, the ages of the people, the kinds of disability that we are dealing with throughout the Northwest Territories. We are developing a response to that survey at this time. Thank you.

Thank you Mrs. Groenewegen. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is good to hear that Education will be working with Health. My question to the Minister is, will it also involve the Minister for Seniors for example, who has a large number of his constituents I would venture to say, that possibly have disabilities or needs in that area, so that there is truly an effective coordination between departments as well as housing, which is another issue for the disabled. Could the Minister indicate whether it is going to be a comprehensive, integrated approach with all departments and not just education? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, the Member raises a very good point. There are a number of departments within the government that deal with persons with disabilities. I mentioned Education, because certainly the schools are one area in which support and assistance is offered, but it does cover a broad spectrum of people and the integrated approach between departments is the most effective way to address these issues, and yes, the social envelope Ministers will be working together as we look at the results of the survey. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister indicate as well then, as they are looking at this very complex but critical issue, will they also be looking at the issue of resources, existing resources, and will they be trying to anticipate and budget possibly for new resources? The disabled, at least in Fort Smith, and I think across the Northwest Territories, have been living on fairly fixed budgets as organizations for a long time and they have demands on them like any other organization. Will they be looking at possible resource issues as well? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister for Health and Social services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Yes, thank you Mr. Speaker. The answer to that question is yes, we will. I do not have information in front of me right now to indicate what kind of financial support we do provide to organizations who work with people in the communities who have disabilities, but I will say, that we certainly do appreciate the work of the NGOs. We consider them to be extremely significant partners in the work that needs to be done. The government alone cannot be everywhere, and although we have a lot of front-line workers who are employed by our department, the contribution of the volunteers and the NGOs in the community is extremely important. Yes, that would be part of what we are looking at.

I also want to mention that, in follow up to the needs survey, the Northwest Territories Council for Disabled Persons will also hold a follow up disabilities conference in January 2001. This will bring together people with disabilities, family members, front-line workers and the deliberations at this conference will also assist us, along with the results of the survey, in addressing the need for an action plan and next steps. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. This will be the final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final supplementary to the Minister then would be the all important question, when it comes to government and strategies in planning and responses, when does the Minister anticipate that there will be a document ready that the public can see, that the Regular Members could see, the social programs that we could see, so that we could put our efforts behind the government working with them to try to meet the needs of the disabled? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department will certainly be looking forward to the input of the Standing Committee on Social Programs and, as to when we will have a plan laid out, Mr. Speaker, I do not know but I will consult with the department on that and get back to the Member.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.