Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, the most important fabric of our communities is our community family units. We have large aboriginal families, we have grandparents, great-grandparents, and we go back, in some communities, over 150 years. Yet, Mr. Speaker, it's those small aboriginal First Nations communities that continue to face the circumstances of children being taken away.
We saw the symposium that was in the hallway with regard to the hostels across Canada. Yet, Mr. Speaker, we have a practice in this government with regard to apprehending children from our communities, especially in the communities I represent.
I've raised this question time and time again with the Minister, and every time I request information, one thing that jumps out at me is the number of children that are continuing to be in care. Mr. Speaker, information I received from the Minister on March 31, 2003, stated there were 43 children in the Mackenzie Delta receiving care under protection services. Mr. Speaker, one thing that alarms me is the latest statistics that I received; from August 31, 2003, that number has increased from the 43 in May to, now, 56 children.
Mr. Speaker, the thing that scares me the most is the number of children that are in permanent custody. We have over 17 children out of the 56 who are classified permanent custody, which is technically short for Lords of the State. Those children will now find themselves being institutionalized for well into their adult lives, as we've seen through the hostel systems, the corrections systems, and First Nations children and people find themselves being institutionalized in a system we call social justice.
Mr. Speaker, I have asked the Minister time and time again to establish a plan of care committee with the communities I represent, especially working in the community of Fort McPherson. The community has approached the Minister on this matter, to establish such a committee to ensure that we have a mechanism to deal with these matters in our communities and not have someone from outside deal with them.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.