Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question this afternoon is for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Jake Ootes. It is in regard to assisting constituents with income support and other associated services of this government.

Very often here in Yellowknife, constituents have to go from place to place to get their services. My question, Mr. Speaker, is what changes or what improvements can the Minister advise of that may be underway to streamline the service to income support clients in Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the income support process was partially changed last fall when we contracted the Women's Centre to allow pre-qualifications to be submitted into the computer system so that some of that work is now done by the Women's Centre. It was found that many of the clients originally went to the Women's Centre and, as well, to the Salvation Army. It was felt because the three organizations, the Women's Centre, the Salvation Army and the other organization that was involved in this, coordinated together, it was felt the Women's Centre could possibly handle this, so we did that. That was one of the steps we have taken on streamlining this process for easier access for the public, Mr. Speaker.

When it comes to individuals who are on EI, then they go to the Genesis Group for support there. There is a contract out with the Genesis Group. That is not directly related to income support, but there may be people who were wondering where they go for support for training advice and so forth. That is the Genesis Group here in Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that information. That is very much the kind of reform that I think clients are looking for. I would like to ask, can that same kind of thinking be extended to other departments? Frequently, constituents have difficulties in many areas, not only income: justice, education, health. Is there any move among government to look at streamlining on a broader scale? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is certainly merit to what the Member is stating. We have created a Ministerial Committee on the Social Envelope, which involves the social envelope Ministers. It is chaired by the Honourable Jane Groenewegen. It is a subject we can put on the table for discussion. As I say, we have done it in our particular department. We are meeting on a consistent basis to start looking at more coordinated approaches in service delivery in all communities. When you speak of justice and other areas, this may be another concern we should put on the table. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, a signal of some progressive moves there. I would like to ask the Minister to what degree do you plan to potentially bring in other levels of the community? For instance, the non-government organizations that are involved in caregiving, clients themselves and other boards in the region and across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been some discussion as we were doing our planning. Certainly there is recognition on our part from our discussions that are very important to ensure that we develop the partnerships across the Northwest Territories with NGOs, with private business whenever we can. We know that service delivery, in many cases, is more efficiently delivered by the non-government organizations and by private enterprise. We are very strongly supportive of that approach.

We have not reached the stage where we can be definitive about exactly what we are doing, but that is certainly part of our discussions.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the Member for Mackenzie Delta that as a department, we take this issue very seriously. We were very saddened by the results of Ms. Blake's illness. My office has talked with Ms. Blake's family. I have requested in writing that the coroner's office undertake an inquiry into the specific circumstances surrounding Ms. Blake's death. I have spoken with the chief coroner today, as well as having written a letter and sent it off to them. We as well are very interested in getting all the details we can to ensure that an unfortunate incident such as this one does not occur again. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Groenewegen. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Madam Minister, for that. I look forward to seeing the results of that inquiry. I for one would like to ensure that the inquiry is open to the public, so we do have input from other individuals or people who may have had a similar experience. I would like to ask the Minister, will she be tabling a terms of reference in regard to how the inquiry will be taking place and exactly what the method of that inquiry will be? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will be making a statement on the overall approach I will be taking on this issue within the next day or two. I also would like to inform the Member that on September 21st, a three-member panel led by Dr. Ann Fanning of Edmonton, who is a world expert on TB control, was appointed to conduct a review and report back to us. We now have a final draft of this document. We are just waiting for the final copy of it.

When we are able to receive this final report from Dr. Fanning as well, I hope that we would be able to, when she comes here, make a briefing available to any Members who are interested in this and as well that she would have the opportunity to speak to the family, to Mr. Krutko, to any Members and really assist us in ensuring that we have the proper processes and procedures in place to ensure that we do not have this situation occur again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is in regard to keeping this process transparent and open. Will the Minister make the report that will be coming forth from the doctor, that she mentioned, public?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Health, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is important to differentiate between the two reports. The report that will be coming forward from Dr. Fanning has to do with the overall subject of tuberculosis and how it is screened for and treated, and those kinds of mechanisms. What I have asked the chief coroner's office to undertake is a public inquiry into the specific details surrounding Mrs. Blake's specific case. Certainly, when we have received confirmation on that back from the chief coroner's office, my hope is that the inquiry will be public and then we will be able to receive the input of people who would have information which could contribute to this particular inquiry. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.