Yes, Mr. Yakeleya, we're on page 6-26, 6-27, program delivery support, active positions. Agreed?

Thank you, committee. We're now on page 6-28, 6-29, health services programs, activity summary. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. Well, I want to ask the Minister what justifies the reduction if we have 65 percent of clients who are aboriginal in Stanton hospital and we're reducing the funding to the Aboriginal Wellness Program? It just doesn't make sense. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, that one percent reduction exercise caused us to look again at all the different areas of the department, and the decision was made that it was easier to take one percent of a reduction or take some funds from a program that has yet to start than it is to look at if we could avoid it taking funds from an already up and running position. I just point out that this commitment is for this year, but the budget for next year is back up to $359,000, or $360,000 for next year. So this will allow us to get a good start and we'll be able to build on it in the coming years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, a budget of $265 million, do you have to take out this little portion from the aboriginal program? I understand what the Minister is saying, hoping to have a good start, but it's reducing. This is a very important program where over 50 percent, over 60 percent clients are aboriginal people. We need this service; we need this type of program, and he has to do a cut out of a budget of $265 million. I just don't understand it. It just doesn't make sense in terms of the program. So for me it just doesn't show that this government department is supporting this Aboriginal Wellness Program.

So I want to again ask the question, would the Minister consider the funding to this program to go back to the original amount that he stated, $234,000?

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the one percent for us was $2.6 million in addition to other reductions that we made over the past number of years. When we look at the list of demands that we have and the needs that we have, like more nurses and nurse practitioners, and better benefits and pay, and those type of things, we had to make some tough choices. This is an important program, which is why we have a significant amount of money in the budget and even more significant amount of money next year, that after all these years we've done enough work and recognize the fact that it's time to invest in this, and we have done that to the best of our ability with the resources we have for this coming year and then the year after next. As I indicated, the number goes up to $360,000. So I believe that is a very clear commitment by the government, supported by the Social Programs committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Yakeleya.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Minister makes a good point in terms of the next year funding in terms of upping the Aboriginal Wellness Program and the one percent cut represents $2.6 million of the total budget, then making other arguments as to reasons why this program needs to be cut. I'm saying again, out of $265 million this small program that is valuable to our people, it's first contact in the hospital. We can't even have people sit at the front desk who can address the needs of the aboriginal people. There are many things that we could talk about again as wide as this program. Of all the cuts that have to be on the chopping block, I mean, there's certainly many other programs that could be looked at to reduce, but not something like this. Especially in terms of the clientele

again is 65 percent aboriginal people who walk through Stanton hospital. This is one percent solution, I guess, to deal with it. I'm having a hard time. I do understand the Minister's commitment to enhance the program for 360, but right now I think we went a little bit off track on here. So I'd like to again ask the Minister to really think about this and I don't even know what the $184,000 would do. What kind of programs? Half time? One person? Two persons? It's just not doing any good for the amount of money that's going to this important program such as the Aboriginal Wellness Program. I think I want more to leave it as a comment. I hope that the government will consider increasing this position towards being more meaningful. We're on the right track, but I think we're taking a step back on this process here. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, considering the fact that at this point we have, right now as we speak, we have no funds invested in this area, I think this is a significant step forward. I know that we initially budgeted more than the final figure and that was one of the realities we had to live with, all of government had to live with, and we were required to do our share. We had to make some tough choices. I will indicate to the Member that we'll look, if there's unallocated funds, that we could possibly look at this area. But at this point, if we put more money here, I have to go back and take $50,000 from somewhere else and we just talked about all the other areas that we want to put funding into already that we don't have money for. So it's always a case of making difficult choices with resources that are never enough for the needs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Yakeleya.

Put the program...

...of $265 million...

...they have to make a $50,000 cut. You put that over 365 days a year you know how much money that is? It doesn't make sense. It's nothing to what we're doing to service our people. That's the bottom line.