Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to briefly touch on the issue of governance, specifically community services boards. Mr. Speaker, community services boards are a method of governance that are being looked at in a number of regions in the Northwest Territories. It has worked for the Dogribs. It is being looked at in the Beaufort Delta as well as in the Deh Cho. The question I have is, what are we going to do in the South Slave, which itself has four health boards?
History has shown us, Mr. Speaker, that in the South Slave, regional structures are not very successful. The regional council that was in place a number of years ago failed mainly because Hay River did not want to take part. As well, there is pressure on the South Slave Divisional Board of Education to be disbanded once again because there is unhappiness with how the communities are being served.
Mr. Speaker, the challenge to the Department of Health and Social Services is going to be, what do we do about governance in the South Slave? I have been pushing the concept of community services boards. I think it is one that has some merit that should be looked at closely, especially in the communities like Fort Smith. I believe they would work in Hay River, Lutsel K'e, and Resolution as well.
Mr. Speaker, later today I will be asking the Minister when and how the government intends to proceed on the issue of governance in the South Slave. I know it ties into a number of issues, such as education and housing. But very clearly there has to be a broad, comprehensive approach of how we are going to do this that recognizes the regional differences, but also the fundamental pressure to rationalize some of the services and governance structures we have in the region. Thank you.