Mr. Speaker, two years ago, almost two years ago to the day, the NWT Department of Health and Social Services introduced the NWT action plan for persons with disabilities. In talking to some disabled persons and NGOs, I am told that there is work, there is progress on this file. It has not been all that visible or all that high profile, Mr. Speaker. One part of this framework was that there would be a review and a monitoring program undertaken, which we have yet to see any action on, Mr. Speaker, or any sort of reporting back on the progress or the status of implementing this framework. It's in quite a contrast, Mr. Speaker, as one of my discussions brought out, especially with the accent on big development, on big pipeline, on big money in the Northwest Territories, that the interests of the, shall we say, the little people or the citizens of the Northwest Territories tend to be taking a back seat, Mr. Speaker. This is especially the case in the area of our social safety net, the consequences and the impacts of big development on our societies and communities, especially in the social services area.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister for Health and Social Services is also the lead Minister for carrying our government's message to the Joint Pipeline Review Panel last week. The question that's coming up now, Mr. Speaker, is, while our government is making a very serious, concerted, heavily funded and highly resourced move to make sure our development and our environmental word is heard at these hearings, where, Mr. Speaker, is the word of the social services for the disabled, for the people who can't look after themselves? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause