Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen. A short update.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, an agreement-in-principle has been reached to enhance administrative resources and renew the agreement for a one-year period. It has also committed both parties to conduct a joint review of the issues and options for addressing them. This work is expected to be completed by the end of June. Thank you.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so far we have not had any indication from any aboriginal governments that they are interested in taking on the administration of the non-insured health benefits. However, as I stated in the last session, the GNWT is absolutely committed to consulting with all stakeholders before any decisions are made with respect to these non-insured health benefits. That certainly does include representatives of aboriginal people. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have agreed to continue to administer this program for a one-year period. The renewal date for a contribution agreement would be March 31, 2002. Certainly our consultation with stakeholders, including aboriginal organizations, would take place prior to that renewal. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The contribution from the federal government through Health Canada to the territorial government to administer on their behalf is around $5.5 million per year, I believe. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. It is in regard to my Member's statement. We are seeing a major increase in the demands that are now on our front-line workers in our communities, with the increased developments that are taking place in the Mackenzie Delta and the Beaufort Sea area.

Mr. Speaker, something has to be done to ensure that our front-line workers have the resources to deal with this increased workload that they have because of the developments that are taking place. I think as a government, we do have an obligation to ensure the health and well-being of the people in our communities is the utmost thing this government is responsible for.

I would like to ask the Minister, what are you doing to ensure that the front-line workers in the communities are receiving the resources to deal with this unforeseen impact that we have at the present time?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we rely on the health boards, the regional community health boards, as a vehicle by which we deliver most of the money that is in our budget for programs and services. As the Member states, if there are increased demands in certain areas because of increased economic activity, we would expect to hear about that from the health and social services boards and would respond accordingly to those increased demands. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we cannot be caught acting after the fact. We have to be proactive when these developments take place. We do have to have the resources, the people in our communities and the resource centres so we can deal with these problems.

What are you doing to deal with the front-line workers in the communities and not the regional centres? I am talking about front-line workers. What are you doing to address their problems?

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 certainly agree that we need to be proactive. I think this government has been very proactive in terms of the attention paid to the development of a Social Agenda Framework and the uniqueness of the Social Agenda Conference, which is coming up. This is the first time that I am aware of that front-line workers from the communities will have the opportunity to meet with and speak with leaders of this government, community governments and aboriginal governments on some of the pressures and the challenges that they are feeling in doing their jobs.

I agree with the Member that we need to ensure that front-line workers are feeling supported in the very important work that they do, and that they are adequately resourced to do their jobs. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I for one feel that we do have to improve on the infrastructure that we have in our communities in dealing with the programs and services that we are delivering. The demand is increasing. We are seeing more social effects on the community as a whole, from the elders to the youth and to the families. I think we have to have a plan and the resources to do it. When will the Minister be coming back to the House demanding more resources and improving the programs and services that we have in our communities?