Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, just a couple of questions, but I believe I gave a commitment on the issue of medical travel and escorts to make sure that when we next meet with the board chairs and the CEOs and the senior staff, we'll review the whole thing of medical travel and escorts. As well, I'd like to just make the point that as a matter of practice, the health practitioners are the ones that make the call. It's not the place of a clerical person or a bureaucrat to necessarily, in their wisdom, decide to override a decision that's been made by a nurse or a doctor. If those situations arise, then of course we backtrack on those very quickly to make sure things are operating appropriately. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's good to hear that the Minister is clarifying the roles of health practitioners or doctors in our communities that make the call and that the bureaucrats could not override a decision made by the health centre. So it's good for clarification that some of our health centres and that would have some clear indication as to when they ask for an escort, that it's not judged or not being challenged by the central travel agency for medical services. So I wanted to thank the Minister for looking at some of these travel policies within his department. So I think that's a good thing I heard about clarification. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. We're on page 6-35, activity summary, supplementary health programs, grants and contributions, contributions, total contributions, $10.273 million.

Thank you. Page 6-37, activity summary, community health programs, operations expenditures summary, $65.487 million. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Chairman, I believe it's under this area that we would be including the move of the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife to Hay River, and I would like to ask the Minister whether his department has considered any of the many calls to reconsider this decision or, at the very least, Mr. Chairman, to look at what kind of programming could be left in place here in Yellowknife to serve the needs of the children and the families who are already attending the TTC here and who have come to rely on the extensive network of services that has built up over the last 15 years or so? So what can the residents of the Yellowknife and the North Slave area rely on for services to children who have severe behavioural disabilities, Mr. Chairman?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I've looked at all the correspondence, and the issues, and the program concerns, and the people of Yellowknife, like all of the other communities in the North, will have the comfort of knowing that they'll have a well-run facility in Hay River that will help address those needs.

We've also committed to look at some repatriation initiative from the South that would better allow us to deal with some young people that may have other issues that they are dealing with, possibly with alcohol and drug issues or abuse issues or other things where we have the capacity, we believe, to provide them on a fostering small group home basis, and we are going to be looking at that initiative...We are looking at that initiative right now. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Mr. Braden.

What arrangements have been made for providing the service in Hay River after the closure of the Yellowknife facility, Mr. Chairman?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Murray.

Thank you, Mr. Murray. Mr. Braden.

Has the contract with Bosco been extended, or has a new contract been cut? What is the duration of this contract with this very reputable firm, Mr. Chairman?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Murray.

Thank you, Mr. Murray. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Chairman, one of the aspects of this transition that has been looked at very carefully is the change from a Yellowknife-based staff to starting up a Hay River-based staff. One of the concerns I know was that as the operation here in Yellowknife spools down, and I understand that the schedule has it that the TTC will cease operation here in Yellowknife in the spring of 2007, that it is going to be difficult to retain the number and calibre of staff here in Yellowknife and yet, within weeks, anticipate that the same number will be recruited in Hay River and ready to undertake the training and transition for the start-up of the program there. This is not a straightforward transition. I wonder if the Minister could advise the Assembly of plans there. Will families be able

to rely on a continuous level of service? Is it realistic to expect that there may be interruptions, Mr. Chairman?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Murray. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you. I appreciate the deputy letting me answer that question.

---Laughter

Mr. Chairman, we are working very hard to make sure that this is as smooth and as seamless a transition as possible. As we look at establishing this program in Hay River. Clearly, we are going to be making offers and encouraging any of the staff in Yellowknife that want to relocate to consider that. In the meantime, we know there is a pool of labour there and skills that we believe we can make use of. Bosco have their own skills, as well, that they are going to bring with them, so we are going to make this as seamless a transition as possible. Thank you.