Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that particular question will be part of the briefings I hope to undertake next week. I cannot give the Member a firm answer, but it is now on our to-do list. It has been raised and the department is aware of the concerns. We will be making every effort to ensure that we comply and honour the agreement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the question about the ball diamond, it has been some time that the health centre has almost completed construction. Hopefully, we will have an opening here shortly. I think the community is in need of having those resources on hand so they can start doing the planning themselves in house, but they need an answer as soon as possible. Can the Minister give me written assurance that it will be available to the community in a short time?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will commit to a written response to the Member within a week. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my statement earlier today, I have a question for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, with health care costs increasing across Canada over 40 percent in the past four years, can the Minister confirm that the problem of sustainability in our system is driven most by rising program costs?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I see no point of dispute with the Member's statement. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's response. Will the Minister commit to seek dialogue, much as requested by Mr. Bell, with northern stakeholders? Not just the NWT Medical Association, but the NWT Registered Nurses Association, the Social Workers Association, when redesigning the health and social services system?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure my colleague that I do not make light of the issue of sustainability. I know it is a critical question to be dealt with as we look at health and social services and where we are going to go as a government in dealing with the issues of the day in that area.

Yes, I will commit to consulting with all of the stakeholders. I am very interested in that issue. I have learnt it well as a member of Social Programs. I have heard Mr. Dent speak quite eloquently on the issue. It has not been lost on me, the years I have been on that committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if he will commit to reviewing the reports that have been done over the past few years and examine whether or not their recommendations have been adequately addressed.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is being done as we speak.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to no more studies in health and social services for the life of this government?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the Members opposite that this department will not be the department of perpetual planning and study. There will be no more studies. We will be moving on to action and implementation. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Dent. I see they are following the rules to the letter -- short questions, short responses. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.