Three consultation workshops were organized as part of the committee's work plan. Representatives from the 11 smallest communities were invited to participate in a workshop session at the North Nahanni Lodge. Representatives from the nine mid-sized communities were invited to a workshop in Wekweti. The seven largest hamlets and charter communities sent representatives to a workshop in Tuktoyaktuk. In all, 19 of the 27 communities sent representatives to participate in the workshops.

The community representatives are concerned about:

• • Insufficient capital funding.
• • Lack of clarity about capital project selection and management.
• • Complicated administration and uncoordinated contribution funding for small projects with short-term funding.
• • Ensuring continuing support from the GNWT for developmental and preventative programs. Their view is that these programs are at least as important as the programs dealing with treatment, crisis intervention and problem management.

Their experience is that many headquarters and regional GNWT employees don't have the skills to be able to provide practical hands-on assistance and useful expertise in small communities.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask my colleague, the Honourable Vince Steen, to present the next portion of this report.