Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in our survey, we are finding that we believe there is sufficient funding to maintain the status quo. If demand increases, we will continue to look at that as a priority question. Again, as long as we are having some problems or the Legal Services Board is having some problems recruiting family law lawyers, then certainly we will continue to communicate with them from that perspective. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister what survey he is looking at. Does that survey include the Members' statements and the Members' questions from this House that suggest there are hundreds and hundreds of people on the waiting list and that the Minister has to take action on it? What actions has he taken as the Minister of Justice to address the problem with the lack of funding for legal aid? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there were a number of questions raised in the last six months. I met personally with the federal Minister of Justice, Martin Cauchon, here in October. We had recognized him in the gallery. We had gone down to Calgary and legal aid was one of the major topics. It's a problem nationally. We have consulted and communicated with the Legal Services Board and its current chairman. We have acknowledged the problems. I stated that in this House. We acknowledge there are some national problems with the level of funding in the provinces and territories. There's not an easy solution and I am prepared to try to find the solution. Again, it's done in concert with my provincial and territorial colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I would like to ask him about the recent Health Canada announcement. I think it was March 6th, at least that's what their Web site indicates, Mr. Speaker. The announcement was in relation to the primary health care transition fund and the Yukon receiving $4.5 million. I know we were slated about that amount. I think it was something like $4.7 million, but I know we haven't seen a cheque. I wonder if the Minister could update us and indicate why other provinces seem to be getting money and we are not. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are still eligible for $4.7 million. This is a four-year program. We have done all the work like every other jurisdiction and the federal government, as my colleague pointed out, has yet to cut the cheque. There was talk of wanting to do an announcement with the federal government about all the good things this primary health care transition fund is going to do, but we've declined until they actually show us the money. We have groups and projects all set to go, but no money. I think we are the same as every other jurisdiction. They know what they are going to get, they know what the projects are. The program is there, but for some reason the federal government has moved at a glacial pace on initiating this program.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think glacial is an understatement. I think the money was announced in September of 2000 and as the Minister indicated, this is four years worth of money available, but time is running out on us. If we don't get this money...I am curious to know that. Maybe the Minister can speak to that. What happens if we don't have this funding approved before the drop dead date? Do we lose the money? Does it simply get rolled over to us in some other capacity? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's our hope the money will be soon forthcoming so that we can be ready to go. At this point at least, like every other jurisdiction, we are basically docked and loaded, as they say, and ready to go on the initiatives. The last thing we want to do is engage in another debate with the federal government as they proclaim the same new money over and over again because they have yet to disburse the money they already committed to years ago to the provinces and territories. So we would like to be up and running as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Minister's assessment, was our signing of the 2003 health care renewal accord critical and was this money contingent on our signing that? We know Romanow recommended, when the federal government is going to dole out health money, that there be certain criteria and certain strings attached so they know how the money is being spent. Is our getting this money contingent on the signing of the accord? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this issue of the accord, I think it's more contingent upon Health Canada getting its act together so that they could not only follow the form of the announcement, but give us the substance of the money so we can do the work.

Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have seen how our government proposes to spend the $4.7 million, should we ever get it. I wonder, was it thought that we would have to spend the $4.7 million first and be reimbursed by the federal government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that was not an option for us as it wasn't an option for most jurisdictions to upfront the money for the federal government. The plan for us has been to work with the government, sign contribution agreements, and get ready as they indicated they wanted us to. The big problem was they never came across with cold, hard cash. So now we are in a position a year later of trying to move on this. We have already put $26 million of new dollars into our Heath and Social Services budget. We don't have the capacity to fund federal government initiatives that they announce to a lot of fanfare and then don't deliver on.

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

The chair wasn't clear to whom you were directing the question. Mr. Handley?