Thank you for the comments. We are all concerned about this particular program that is very much needed here in the North by a lot of citizens who cannot afford it on their own. The board is very concerned as well. I have requested that the board do a budgeting exercise that is realistic. They are preparing a reasonable budget for future years.

We all recognize that the services provided to the public of the Northwest Territories are very critical, and we must keep pace with the different federal legislation that is in place now. We have the gun legislation, there are different criminal codes, there is the proposed Youth Criminal Justice Act, and there are a number of things we are facing here legally, and we need to keep pace with it.

I know the hourly rates for the younger lawyers are very low. I think the board also sees that as well. There are a number of very critical things that we have to do at the same time. I think it is very necessary to do a review to make sure we do not start picking it off here and there. If we do a comprehensive review, we can look at all these things that are out there that are of concern to everybody.

In the meantime, the board is doing a realistic budget and we will see probably, if the feds do not cough up additional dollars, that we will have to seek it from within our system shortly. Thank you.