Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services' budget was prepared with the allocations available and the forced growth that was agreed to in a previous budget cycle for this fiscal year. For the upcoming fiscal year, I have not been provided any details if there are any changes to that. Of course, when you are speaking from one union to another, the comparability of benefits can be quite significantly different and that's something that always has to be taken into consideration when we enter into these discussions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister mentioned forced growth. Forced growth often relates to increases in salaries and benefits for workers in the public service. I would like to ask the Minister when he talks about the increase in the amount of the contract to address forced growth, does that forced growth include incremental increases for the workers at the Nats'ejee K'eh? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process we have entered into for organizations that deliver programs outside of our own staffing situation, there is a process that is used by each department that would look at the services being delivered and if they fit our definition of forced growth and if they would be included, that's department by department. I am not clear as to the process that was just implemented, if in fact they would fall into it. I know, for example, there was no inclusion for higher wages at this point because there was no agreement in place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if there are any other third-party contracts similar to this that would see the employment of unionized workers where they would actually have been without a contract for three and a half years. This seems like a long time and I would imagine it is fairly unprecedented. Also, would the Minister be prepared to table a copy of the contract with the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Board in this House? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any situation where we've had a group of employees working that are represented by a union that does not have an agreement in place. I don't have any of that information available. As for the tabling of

the contract, I would have to work with the department to see if we could do that. So I will have a look at it, but I can't make that commitment at this point.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been aware for some time, as in the previous question, that it's been recognized that they have been working without a union since 2003. They have always been encouraged to come together and come to a conclusion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's been three years that these workers have not had any type of agreement on security. It's been three years. So what did the government do in the three years to get the parties back on the road and not have our clients shut out and have people go down to other treatment centres? What have they done in three years and not just now when it comes down to the crunch when we are having this discussion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a contract is in place with the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority and the board that is the employer. That's been in place and that has been honoured. They've waited for a conclusion to this. Of course, we are dealing with a separate employer dealing with their employees. From my standpoint, it's to honour the initial contract with the society that's delivering that service. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this situation here, because we are at the 11th hour of this agreement, it's the only treatment centre in the Northwest Territories that shut down for a lot of issues that came from alcohol, and our communities are suffering terribly. I wonder if the Minister or GNWT would consider bringing the facilities or the parties, workers, into the public service so we have some security for our people. You have to think about the people in the community and the clients. Would the Minister consider bringing these workers into the public service? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of bringing employees into the public service has been considered by this government in the past and can be reconsidered. Ultimately, part of the issue is here when we are dealing with one union to another, there are issues that have to be dealt with. It's not just straightforward taking on employees and bringing them in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I couldn't agree more with the Minister. It's the same with alcohol and drugs. With alcohol and drugs, you have to negotiate. I would encourage the Minister to reconsider bringing the workers into the public service where there is some security and benefits. Pay them for what they are worth in dealing with this serious issue of alcoholism in the Northwest Territories. I would again ask the Minister to really strongly consider bringing these workers into the public service where they are honoured and respected for the work they are doing in our communities in saving the lives of our people. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.