Thank you, Mr. 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 of Health and Social Services, in regard to my previous question. Mr. Speaker, I do not agree with the Minister that the community of Aklavik can wait three months to have a position filled that is an essential position. This position hasn't been filled in two years. The money has been allocated to the divisional board for two years. The money has been sitting there for two years. So I'd like to ask the Minister exactly what do we have to do to get a position in the community of Aklavik, knowing that the money is in place? All we need is a body to put into the community of Aklavik. What is this government going to do to move on this thing rather than simply say we'll offer alternative services from Inuvik? For me, that is not the solution. How soon can we see this position on the ground, not waiting three months?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we're currently in a state of transition as we move the former alcohol and drug workers that were scattered across communities in various programs, bringing them in under the boards. We're looking at classification of all the jobs, all the people currently in these positions and their pay levels and skill levels. So I will commit to the Member that while I've said by the end of summer, I will commit to talk to the department and the Inuvik Health and Social Services to see if there's a way to fast track this or possibly get somebody in over the summer on a casual basis as we work through the longer range of longer-term issues. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't know what it's going to take to convince this Minister how essential this position is in the community. I have children who have basically had to leave school because of behavioural problems. There's no one there who can assist these children. We have people who can't take programs because they can't get the basic orientation programs to prepare them for programs outside the community. We have justice committees that can't give an alternative sentence to youth because of an alcohol and drug problem, because you don't have people in the community that can assist them. So I'd like to ask the Minister, knowing that this money is there, what will it take this department to ensure that they advertise for this position as soon as possible and have that position filled within, say, a week?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the gravity of the situation, of the terrible effects of alcohol and drug abuse across the Northwest Territories. I've been dealing with that issue for a long, long time. I'll commit to the Member that I will try to fast track the actual formal hiring, and in the interim look at putting in, on a casual basis so that we don't have to wait, or a term basis, hopefully, a qualified individual while we sort through those other particular issues. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, knowing that this position hasn't been filled for two years and the money is allocated to the community of Aklavik, I'd like to ask the Minister will those dollars be reprofiled so that the dollars that have been sitting there for two years will be given to the community of Aklavik for programs and services such as alcohol and drug programs?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last two years while that position has been vacant and the program has not been operational for other reasons, there have been fly-in services, however inadequate they may seem to be. But the services have been flown in from Inuvik, so there has been a cost with that. But, once again, I'm prepared to ask for an accounting of the Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority to the community of Aklavik on how these funds for their program have been expended over the last two years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary for the second go-round, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the Minister's commitment to do something, I'd like to ask the Minister is there a possibility of having the position reprofiled for the community of Aklavik for those dollars that have been sitting there for two years for a mental health worker to work along with the alcohol and drug worker? I believe this problem has a direct impact on what has happened in the community of Aklavik for the last two years. So how soon can that position be filled by either an alcohol and drug program worker or a mental health worker?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will be following up today and tomorrow on the commitments that are being made in this House to look at a casual or term position, the accounting of the funding over the last two years, as well as trying to fast track the permanent hiring of a qualified alcohol and drug prevention worker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Time for question period has ended. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to Opening Address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. The chair recognizes the honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report that the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development has reviewed Bill 13, Deh Cho Bridge Act, and wishes to report that Bill 13 is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole, as amended and printed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two documents to table today. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Forging New Partnerships, NWT Housing Corporation, 2001-2002 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for the first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three bills for first reading. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 21, Family Violence Prevention Act, be read for the first time.