Could the Minister give me some numbers so I have a rough idea of what we are talking about here? Does the Minister know the number of children that are in care who have been sent outside the region, outside the community to other communities, either to Inuvik, Yellowknife or wherever? Do you have an idea of the number of children that have been taken out of the communities and are now in care in other areas of the Northwest Territories or down south?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have two pages of statistics that I would be happy to share with the Member in regards to the children in care in his constituency. There are 24 as of March 31, 2003 in Aklavik, 24 in Fort McPherson, eight in Tsiigehtchic for a total of 56. Mr. Speaker, if I may, in Aklavik seven are under voluntary support agreements, one is under a support services agreement, 12 that are under plan of care and two are under apprehension and two are in permanent custody. In Fort McPherson there is one under a voluntary support agreement, five under plan of care, ten on an interim custody order, one on temporary custody and seven under permanent custody. In Tsiigehtchic there are four under voluntary support agreements, one under a support service agreement and three under plan of care. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to share these numbers with my colleague.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to getting that information from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister have a breakdown of what it is costing this government to have that number of children in care and what is the cost to this government to keep those children in care?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a host of issues that relate and cause the need for these kind of services. There are conditions that may be set with a particular family in terms of alcohol, lack of employment. There are a number of issues related to abuse. There may be issues related to the community being under tremendous pressure because there is a major resource development and the whole lifestyle is changing. There are the individual family factors. If it is a single mother and it is a broken home. There are a whole host of reasons why a family and children at any given time may require services.

Mr. Speaker, we spend millions of dollars every year dealing with children and child welfare issues. We will in all probability continue to bring those kinds of resources to this very important area of dealing with our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services and I just want to clarify what I think I heard, Mr. Speaker. On the basis of what he said to my last question, am I to understand that if there is some kind of a proposal that comes out of the Northwest Territories Medical Association's meeting today that the government and the Minister are prepared to consider and entertain that package? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we tabled with the specialists a 27 percent wage increase and a final offer for arbitration. The arbitration offer was rejected and two dates, the 28th and 29th, were put forward as the dates when they could next be ready to meet. We have heard nothing other than the rejection of the arbitration offer. So, Mr. Speaker, we are a government committed to providing services. This is a very important part of our healthcare system. We have been committed all along to working with the specialists for a successful resolution. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So maybe I did not hear what I thought I heard. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the last time the two parties met, the government offered their package and the offer for arbitration and the doctors rejected it. So I think the argument can be made that the government can make a new offer as well, or entertain any packages that the doctors are going to submit. So would the Minister commit to either one of those? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will commit, as I have done from the start, to working through this process and reaching a successful arrangement with the specialists. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have heard that. I understand that is what his intentions are, but I need more details, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister consider any proposal, counter proposal or offer that comes from the Northwest Territories Medical Association following their meeting? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my previous answers I am waiting for the outcome of the meeting of the doctors, the medical association. If the specialists have something to offer, of course we are going to be looking at whatever that may be. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Ms. Lee. No supplementary. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been a significant amount of work done on the alcohol and drug strategy. The strategy was done. There were 25 recommendations made and put forward. Through last year's business planning process we, for the current fiscal year, obtained funding to implement the first four. The upcoming business plan will have additional requests in there to move on the other remaining recommendations.

Mr. Speaker, the immediate focus put forward that was identified in the strategies and the reports done on the alcohol and drug service currently available was the need to address the issue of the current staff in the communities, the alcohol and drug services, that have been underpaid and basically neglected or overlooked in that part of the overall system for many years, working at very, very low wages. We are working to reclassify their jobs. We are going to bring them under the board so they can get paid benefits. We are going to increase their pay based on their experience and qualifications. We are going to develop a training program that will be on-going so that all alcohol and drug workers will soon be called community prevention workers. We will have those training requirements met.

So, Mr. Speaker, we are doing that as well as looking at hiring some more mental health workers and some clinical supervisors. The upcoming year's business plan will in fact reflect the rest of the recommendations. Thank you.

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