Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I would just like to make the Member aware that this has just recently come to our attention. I would like to advise the Member that I will ensure that the department officials go back into the communities and start dealing with the communities to see where the core of the problems are and try to come to some formal resolution on the matter. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I take it from that statement that the Minister will be looking at this issue again. He has also indicated in committee of the whole that he would take a look at this issue and re-evaluate the overall approach. I would like to ask him, when can we expect this information, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can commit to the Member that we are taking significant steps to try to resolve these problems. I know it is a long overdue process that is needed. We had sent out letters to each Member and also to the communities saying that we are taking a proactive approach to this. It is going to be a while yet, but I can assure the Member that it is being tackled at this point. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my statement earlier, I mentioned that the lease increases have increased from $250 to $2,500 a year. I would like to ask the Minister if his department considered implementing a gradual increase to lease costs rather than hitting people with a massive increase that may cause hardship? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the department is looking at trying to be more responsive. We understand that there are some administration problems. We will look at that in the context of our land administration program as we go forth. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister is aware, the Deh Cho First Nations are now in negotiations and land is one of the issues that will be discussed. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider a moratorium on land leases and taxes for the people of the Deh Cho? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I cannot commit to a land moratorium at this point. We still have to work with MAA in the context of the land claims and self-government negotiations. We have taken the responsibility to work with all of the communities and all of the regions across the Northwest Territories. Every region and community has different problems and we are trying to resolve that on a territory-wide basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. As Minister responsible for coordinating this government's action to combat family violence, Minister Groenewegen is in a position to coordinate development of a strategy implementing zero tolerance in family violence, which might include setting up a broad collaborative process, finding the scope of the work, committing resources and so on. There is no question this initiative will need some dedicated funding for coordination, travel, research and writing. Is the Minister willing to undertake to lead in developing such a strategy?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am willing to lead in this area. I appreciate the interest and the support for this very important issue of family violence from the Members on the other side of the House. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's answer and her willingness to lead in this area. Is the Minister familiar with family violence legislation currently in place in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Prince Edward Island, Alberta and proposed in Ontario?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I am not aware of the specifics of family violence legislation in other jurisdictions, but it is something that I would commit and undertake to gain an understanding of as it may relate to a deficiency in our legislation here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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