Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last spring the Minister of Health and Social Services stoically stood up in this House and defended the government's decision to relocate the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife to Hay River. The Yellowknife MLAs, and other Regular Members, waited patiently while the department scrambled to cobble together whatever information they had to base this decision on. What we received from the Minister was information that, in my opinion, Mr. Speaker, was either never read by Cabinet, or was completely disregarded in favour of moving this program out of Yellowknife.

The government also did not appreciate the fact that I was questioning them on whether or not they had even followed their own rules, as set out in the Financial Administration Manual. No consultation took place with Regular Members; we didn't see any business case. All we saw were capital dollars being funnelled out of this TTC program in Yellowknife to a completely different community. Of course, the government was adamant that every rule in the book was followed, Mr. Speaker, and that they did not violate the spirit and intent of their duty and obligation to consult Regular Members.

Mr. Speaker, I find it very ironic that this government is now proposing substantive provisions to that same FAM directive that was the focal point of my concerns back in June. Coincidence? I don't think so, Mr. Speaker.

I have come across a piece of correspondence, yesterday, between the deputy minister of Health and the Minister's office, dated May of last year, wherein the DM states, quite obviously, that the decision to move the TTC from Yellowknife to Hay River was one solely for political motives, not bureaucratic ones. Mr. Speaker, this is the smoking gun that has finally been unearthed.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table that document at the appropriate time today. Why would the government take a program which has been highly successful, and rip its heart out solely for political gain? The government did not stop for a second and listen to its own departmental staff, experts, employees, MLAs, or anyone that could easily prove to them that this was not a good decision. Even the Minister's deputy could not defend the decision with any semblance of a proper business case.

How are we, as Regular Members, and the public, going to be able to trust Cabinet decisions now, knowing that they really do not need to have any rhyme nor reason before they make a decision? They just go ahead and do it. Who pays the price, Mr. Speaker? In this instance, it's the employees, support networks and the children that utilize the TTC.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot begin to tell this House enough, how disappointed and dismayed I am over the actions of the Minister and this government on the issue of the relocation of the TTC. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.