Yes, I, as Chairman, take direction from the committee and the committee was overwhelming to go to detail. What is the wish of the committee? Anybody want to speak to a point of order? Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Krutko and I had asked a question I know that was not answered. I think, at least, he would like an answer from the Minister on his last issue. Thank you.

I was going to allow the Minister to answer that question. Just on the point of order, does the committee agree we want to go back to general comments or are we going to continue in detail? Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think most Members would agree that if the Member has some questions that are general comments that he wants to conclude, we will go back to it.

We agree to go back to general comments. Mrs. Groenewegen.

I will give an answer that will maybe satisfy the committee and the Member. Mr. Chairman, there is an opportunity through the health board budgeting process, for example, to include something like a bus for handicapped or physically challenged people to be put in the capital of the Inuvik Health Board in consultation with a request and in consultation with the community of Aklavik.

In some of the larger communities, you have a higher concentration of people who have physical disabilities. In some of those instances, you see these types of vehicles being provided by service clubs through fund raising efforts. I realize these are not options which are necessarily available in the smaller communities. I would suggest to the Member that the community of Aklavik work with the Inuvik Health Board to perhaps look at the rate of need in the community and if it might warrant putting something such as a handi-bus in the capital plan for the Inuvik Regional Health Board. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, why we have a Department of Health and Social Services if everything has to be decided somewhere else boggles my mind. This facility is owned by this government. This is an elderly facility, where people from all through the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea go to receive care. This is a government responsibility. It is the responsibility of the Minister that she takes the initiative to ensure that she is taking care of health and the well-being of the people of the Northwest Territories, especially when it comes to the facilities that are owned by the government.

I find it awfully irritating that we keep putting these issues off to let somebody else deal with it. When is this government going to deal with the problems and the issues that are raised in this house by Members? It is this government's responsibility to ensure that the money that goes to these different boards and agencies that we have, some accountability and have some say regarding where it is going to spend and how it is going to be spent.

I would like to at least see the Minister or her department make an attempt to try to deal with this concern. I find it awfully frustrating when you ask these questions and do not get any direction. Will the Minister take it on her own to look into this issue and see what she can do as a Minister? Use some of her influence to try and make these changes to make life better for the residents of the Northwest Territories, especially the elders in the Beaufort-Delta region, who are living in this care facility in Aklavik.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we delegate a lot of responsibility to the regional and local health boards. That has been the trend of this government and past governments.

If the Member is suggesting that he would like me to become directly involved in the needs and the delivery of programs and services at the community level in by-passing boards that have been setup, it is just an interesting idea. He talks about the Minister's authority, but we have delegated a lot of that authority to the boards. If the boards are not there and close-by in a position to be responsive to these needs, then I do not know who is. If the boards are not responsive to the people and the needs of the communities, that is something we need to look at, but that is a governance issue.

Right now, the system that we operate under does refer the identifying of needs like this to boards, who then pass those needs on through their business planning process and their business plans to the department for approval. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. I have Mr. Dent and Mr. Miltenberger on my list, but I need some direction. Were those under general comments or were you on detail? Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My questions are specific under directorate and corporate services regarding their recruitment and retention strategy.

General comments? Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister clarify what is meant by Minister discretion to issues relating to health and social services? I will use an example, in the area of Rankin Inlet, the Minister stepped in with the 13th Assembly because he was not satisfied with the conduct of the board. In that case, the Minister felt that he was in charge and he took charge. Are you telling me you do not have any ability such as the former Minister of Health, that your responsibility is lesser now than it was in the 13th Assembly?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mrs. Groenewegen.

No, Mr. Chairman. As Minister, I do have responsibility to step in if the boards are not conducting the affairs and the business of the board. This would be done as a last measure after numerous attempts through our board support unit, no different attempts. This would be a last resort to step in and take the authority away from the board and intervene as a Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Regarding the budget process, in the capital I see money there for the hospital in Aklavik. I suppose that was a decision made by this government or was it the money coming for the hospital to be constructed? Also, there is money in different areas of the budget that you have a say in, as a Minister.

It has to be proven to this House. The same as the operations and maintenance costs that are going to be associated with the different governments. In regard to an item, say a vehicle will show up as operations and maintenance, so could there be a motion or a recommendation put forth in your budget to identify a certain part of that budget be allocated for specific purposes, like a vehicle in a specific community, since it is already in this budget? The money that you are sending to the health board is in this budget. As a Minister, you have the ability to do that because the money has not been allocated currently because this budget has not been passed.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the money for facilities does not go through the health board. However, money for equipment and vehicles does flow through the health boards and it would be inappropriate through this budgeting process to upstage or circumvent or pre-empt the budget which will come forward from the Inuvik Regional Health Board. That would be the appropriate place to include a request for funding for something such as a vehicle. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Krutko.

Could the Minister identify exactly where in the budget the money will be allocated to the regions for the purchase of equipment?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Chairman, under primary and acute care programs, grants and contributions, details, there is a line item called equipment under $50,000, and that used to be under capital, but it now falls under operations and maintenance. Thank you.