Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the argument that because he has helped nobody else and watched them fail, that he has to watch the sixth one fail, just doesn't wash with me. We're dealing with one day care that is in dire need, that needs some extra funding. Premier Handley said, in this House, that why we are here is to do politically strong things, whereas this Minister has to stick to whatever is planned and because I've watched every other day care fail, I have to watch this one. So why can't the Minister be politically strong and do something about this before it's too late, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven't stood by and watched other day cares fail. In fact, in the last four years, there's been an increase in day care programs in the Northwest Territories of 23. There's been an increase of over 150 spaces in day care programs in the Northwest Territories in that same time.

So there have been some that have gone under; there have been new ones that have come along to take their places. Yes, it's a tough business. It's a very tough business to be in, and I understand that, and I am going to continue fighting to get the money that should be in that program.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure I could release this. The executive director of YWCA, Lyda Fuller, tells me that the government has intervened for as much as $75,000 to save a day care. So why is this Minister refusing to take action and do an extraordinary thing? All they have to do is look at the issue and review it, and come to an answer other than saying that he can't do anything because he's a robot. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think that a bailout is the right way to go for an operation. We need to make sure that the operations can survive within the funding that we have available, and if we can find more funding, then they can enhance the programs. But particularly in these times of tight money, we have to be careful with our expenditures and live within our budgets. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm going to table the two letters where, basically, the Minister tells the day care centre we don't have any money, you've got everything, and so, basically, go away. That's dated October 18th, and the very next day, Aurora College tells them you have

to get out of here by Friday. Is that the Minister's way of working with a day care centre that's in a financially dire situation? How can he assure this House that he's taking care of the children? What is the latest? Because my information is that these kids have nowhere to go and the Minister doesn't give a darn. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to the tabling of those letters. The one, particularly, from the college, I think, outlines that they are interested in working to see day care in the North and in Fort Smith. If you take a look at what the letters say, it's basically, well, it's unfortunate that you've had to follow this path, but the program offers a certain level of support. This government doesn't bail everybody out, in spite of what the opinions might be, and maybe we should. It would be nice to be able to do that sort of thing, but right now, we're in a situation where we have a program, the money is set out in that program, and we have to expect that operators will live within it. Do we help them? Yes. We'll have staff go out to the centre. The staff have been available to help in Fort Smith, just as they are in other communities, to provide advice and support. But I think it's not fair to pretend that that isn't happening, because it does happen all across the North, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up on my questions on the alcohol issue in my region. At this time, I want to ask the question to the Minister of Health and Social Services, on the programs. Has his department written to the federal government, or whatever programs that Health Canada has, in terms of alcohol and drug strategy programs in regard to getting some funding for treatment and rehabilitation programs or centres in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

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

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I believe we've accessed all the funds possible with the federal government. As well, we work with the aboriginal governments on a number of these projects, like the Diabetes Strategy, as well, which has a direct tie into alcohol. There are many programs for children that we're involved in as a government. So, yes, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister, in his recollection, know about the alcohol and drug treatment rehabilitation contribution program that the government has offered under Health Canada, under the office of demand reduction programs? Is the Minister aware if his department has submitted a proposal to that office? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that title that the Member repeated, or rattled off, doesn't ring any bells. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I apologize to the Minister. I have information here that this office of demand reduction and the drug strategy of controlled substance programming in Ottawa has allocated, in 2004-2005, $266,798 to the Northwest Territories for an alcohol and drug treatment rehab contribution program. That's the information I have here. So I wanted to ask the Minister if his government has asked for these dollars to help us in the alcohol and drug programs or our facilities in the North? Thank you.