Thank you, Madam Chair. Firstly, I would like to thank the Member for his positive comments about the services. I agree; having travelled around the country and other places that we have a level of services in the North that is very high, and I think often unappreciated until you are in another jurisdiction and you recognize the value of what we have here.

The issue of alcohol would come under alcohol and addictions. Mental health services would come under integrated activity 500, which is, I think, integrated community health programs when we get to the budget.

With regard to the issue of alcohol, I agree that of all of the issues we deal with, in my mind the issue of alcohol runs like a river of misery and sorrow and hurt that runs through the North touching every community, causing us inestimable grief and cost. It is something that we have not yet come to grips with, and clearly as northerners we have a penchant for drinking and smoking, and doing all of those things that are hard on one's body, one's families, and one's health.

The issue of hard drugs is also one of growing concern. Though the statistics I have seen indicate that while it is a problem, it is still a relatively small one, especially in comparison to the alcohol issues, it is not one that can be ignored. I know in some communities like Yellowknife it is quite prevalent given the population, the transient nature, and the amount of money that is here. Thank you.