Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I note the Member's comments and we will be making every effort to be there with information and plans, not just information, but how we intend to be part of this solution. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We are on page 6-25, community health programs. Can I have some order in the House, please? Budget summary, operations expense, total operations expense, $50,954,000.

Page 6-27, community health programs, grants and contributions, contributions. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Page 6-27 under community services support, which is funding for organizations and governments at the community level to promote mental health, could the Minister explain why the drop in funding in this area?

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just bear with me for one second. Mr. Chairman, we have obviously been stumped again. Our batting average is not good. What I will ask is Mr. St. Germaine to speak to the issue. I think he has identified it here.

Mr. St. Germaine.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. From that, I would assume then that we have been lapsing $140,000 in this program area consistently. I guess I would say, given the importance of the issue of mental health and the small amount of money that we put into the promotion of mental health, why would we not have looked for some way to ensure that one of the community organizations was accessing this money and putting it to good use throughout the Territories? I think the Minister is well aware of some of the problems that are faced in the North by people who could use some help from some of the NGOs and it is sometimes not available. This could help them to perhaps spread their wings rather than cutting the money back to find some way of putting it to good use.

The Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I find nothing to disagree with in the Member's comments. He makes good points. I am not going to defend the decision to move $140,000 out of an already small budget. We will note this issue as we move ahead with the budget for the year. I thank the Member for his comments.

Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe I heard the Minister kind of promising that he would try and have his department find some money to increase the support to organizations like the CMHA, the Canadian Mental Health Association, which I think by and large provide the majority of services in the North. If that is the case, then I am satisfied and wish the Minister well in his efforts to free up some more money. Thank you.

The Minister of Health and Social Services.

Sorry, Mr. Chairman, I was mesmerized by the articulate response of my colleague. I appreciate his comments and we will seek to comply. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Just following up on a question asked earlier by Mr. Roland, in which it was requested of the Minister of Justice. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice, do you have a response or information for Mr. Roland? Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I am correct in hearing the question, it is regarding the current status of the legislation on family violence? May I have that verified please?

Mr. Roland, do you want to verify your question?

The Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to quickly update the Member, the Department of Justice is currently doing further research. We need to determine if family violence legislation in the NWT is feasible. The department plans to answer the issues raised in the preliminary research, develop some options for family violence legislation drawing on the experience of other jurisdictions and in consultation with affected organizations and cost out some of those options.

The work will be done in cooperation with the Department of Health and Social Services and in consultation with RCMP, chief judge...(inaudible)..., status of women, legal services board, victim services agencies, and others. Our department expects to complete this work by June, 2002.