Mr. Speaker, in the terms of reference for the committee, one of the recommendations or one of the requests is that recommendations to the Minister should focus on the GNWT's need to address the unique social and economic priorities of the Territory. Mr. Speaker, I would advocate that the role of women in our society is indeed very high and very strong. Would the Minister responsible not agree that a woman's voice in this committee would indeed reflect the very terms of reference the government has outlined? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Member responsible for appointing Members to this committee has agreed to consider the requests and the concerns that have been raised here today with respect to representation on this committee.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are kind of dancing around an issue here that is very straightforward. I would ask the Minister responsible, will she work with her colleague, the Minister of Finance, to quickly find a way to ensure that women's voices are heard on this committee? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will consult with my Cabinet colleague on that matter. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for the 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, it is the mandate and the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Services to ensure that resources are committed to regions and communities in a fair and equitable manner.

With respect to a social worker in the community of Tsiigehtchic, I would have to look into that matter and find out whether there is a commitment to a placement and it is vacant, or if there is not a dedicated position for that community. I would ask the Member to allow me to look into that. It is a fairly specific request for information, and I will get back to him. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that this government does revitalize its policies and principles to ensure that all communities have a similar base of program delivery and have the resource people in our communities. Will the Minister also look at the possibility of considering making such a change so everyone receives similar resource people in our communities? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said, I will commit to finding out how the needs of the people of Tsiigehtchic are met in terms of the services provided by social workers, whether there is a resident position or visits made on a regular basis. Also, to determine with the department whether it is sufficient given the level of need in that community. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister for that commitment. I believe there may be need for identifying new resources to ensure that they do have a full-time position. Right now, they do not have anyone there. I would like to ask the Minister, will she also consider looking at the possibility of identifying resources to ensure they have a full-time position in Tsiigehtchic?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is something we would need to do in consultation with the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board, as they would be the organization that would put forward a funding proposal for such a position. They would also be responsible for ensuring the staffing of such a position.

I have committed that we will speak with the department and with the Inuvik regional board to find out what the level of need is and the level of service is to the community of Tsiigehtchic. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the whole idea of sharing resources and having people identified outside of the community, that is the problem. We have a very major problem with identifying social workers in the region, never mind in the communities. I am asking the Minister, will the Minister commit to ensuring the community of Tsiigehtchic has their own social worker to assist with the social problems of that community?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to make that commitment here today because I am not certain as to how the services of a social worker are delivered in Tsiigehtchic right now. As I said, it is a level of detail that I am not familiar with off the top of my head. Certainly, as I stated, we are concerned about the fair provision of services to all Northerners. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. That concludes the time allocated for question period. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to the opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.