Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement, I made reference to seasonal and healthy lifestyles enjoyed by the people of the Mackenzie Delta and elsewhere across the Territories. I want to ask the Minister of RWED if he would assess the priority of his department, so that we can have a designated renewable resource economist assigned to the Inuvik region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is something that the Member and I and my department have been in some discussion about, not the specific position of a renewable resource economist, but more to the point of what we need to look at with renewable resources, work with communities to better understand where there are economic opportunities that are acceptable to the communities and economic opportunities that individual entrepreneurs would like to pursue. We do have business development people in the regions who can be actively engaged in this regard. It's probably more appropriate than renewable resource officers, who have had a slightly different mandate, as the Member knows. Certainly it has merit. This discussion is important as we look to understand and identify opportunities that will allow us to take full advantage, especially of traditional lifestyles. Certainly this is a message that I have sent to the department and we are in discussion about how to pursue this course of action. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the context of the Minister's reply, I want to commend the department for their continued support of the fur harvesters' program, fur pricing program. I think it's important as well to make the Minister aware that even though there is some renewed interest in how they are going to address the renewable resource sector, I still think it's important that they consider the fact that we need to have the same level of investment in the renewable resource sector to mitigate some of the socioeconomic impacts that the pipeline proposal would bring, so we can continue to enhance that level of lifestyle. I certainly hope the Minister would respond to the question of whether his department would support this subsistence-based lifestyle that is enjoyed by most communities and will be directly impacted by the pipeline. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Mr. Bell.

Thank you. I will certainly commit to continue with the programs we are currently providing in this regard. I think they are very important and very worthwhile. The member has indicated a couple and we've received a lot of response from other jurisdictions who really envy the fur pricing program and suggest that this is unprecedented support for that industry. I would also like to add that this government recognizes the need to diversify our economy and ensure that we aren't solely reliant on mining, oil and gas development. There are a lot of tourism opportunities and a lot of renewable resource opportunities. It is important for us to pay a lot of attention to these sectors because they are sustainable and they will be here, be with us and be strong going forward if, in fact, we provide that level of support. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly we are having a lot of discussion internally in the department, but we do recognize the need to work very closely with our aboriginal government partners, with aboriginal development organizations. Obviously much of this activity will be grassroots driven. It's not something that the government is interested nor should impose on regions. This should be to the comfort level of the individual communities and regions, but we want to work with them to help them understand and identify opportunities that there may be as we analyze world markets, because there really are a lot of resources we can tap into and we don't have to be solely focussed on the ones that obviously jump to mind in terms of diamonds, gold and oil and gas. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the honourable Minister Michael Miltenberger. In my Member's statement today, I talked about the uncertainty facing clients in the Northwest Territories who are currently living in the facility operated by the Aboriginal Partners and Youth Society. While I sympathize with the troubles of the society, I have too, as a legislator, recognized there are certain standards and criteria that have to be met by this government to continue other contractual relationships. I cannot advocate a cause that would open them up for lawsuits. This would be irresponsible as a legislator. This being said, Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the Minister of Health and Social Services can provide this House with information on the programs and services offered by the proposed new contractor as they relate to aboriginal people. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We would be happy to provide this House, to the chair of Social Programs, the package of information that we have as it relates to Integrated Services in Edmonton and the various components of the programs and services they offer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to the information from the Minister. In saying all this, I also want to ask the Minister and his officials what they are planning to do to inform these nine clients who are in Edmonton about the facility. Not so much the clients, but look at the families of these people rather than just having a phone call to the families. What is his department doing to talk to the families? I know it's a sensitive issue and I would appreciate a phone call from any department of this government to let me know what's happening to someone who is close to me. I think we need to make the personal touch and reach out and touch someone, as someone from the phone company says.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have had staff down in Edmonton now for almost three weeks, senior staff working through the situation and dealing with the clients on a daily basis. We've also made sure, as we have tried to keep everybody informed, that the families have been informed. Some of them are very active in this particular issue. If there is more to be done, then I would be glad to take advice from the Member to see what that would be in terms of keeping the families better involved and informed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the concerns of the families is the new services being proposed by this government to be used by the clients who are in Edmonton is that Integrated Services may not be a good move. Some of the families indicated that the Aboriginal Partners and Youth Society has a really good program and are afraid that their clients would not receive the same type of programs by this new proposed facility. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that the new contractor meets the needs of the aboriginal clients who are being suggested to move to the new contractor? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, as a government, have taken all the steps at this point we believe are necessary. We've made arrangements with Integrated Services. We, along with Nunavut and the Alberta government, no longer place clients with APYS. The issue of the aboriginal and cultural component is one that's been addressed. Integrated Services is tied into services in Edmonton with the group Bent Arrow and the friendship centres. We are working with them to make sure that the northern content is there. Once the clients move, we can deal with issues like northern foods and that sort of thing. So we are very sensitive to the issue the Member has raised. We've made the case to ensure that is clearly addressed and we will continue to work with Integrated Services to ensure that that component of the program is strong and robust. Thank you.