Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I have to say again that there is a process that is ongoing. Mr. Speaker, I know there was a news item this morning -- I didn't catch it all -- on this. But there's two sides in this. There's an offer on the table. There's, I believe, some consideration of it. These are negotiations that are ongoing and it would not be appropriate for our government to intervene at this point while negotiations are still going on. Some day if this comes to a complete grinding halt, then it may be necessary. But at this point, Mr. Speaker, I'll restate that I believe it's too early for us. There is a responsibility for each side, in fact both sides, to work toward an agreement and I trust that both sides are doing that today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe the Premier has information that none of us have, because as far as I know, maybe the Premier can share with us on this because as far as I know the company made a final offer and the union does not feel that they can accept the offer. Not because of the details of the package, but because of some of the things that the company's asking for that the company cannot accommodate. I don't see any other extra sources, anything changing that could bring the two parties back together. So maybe the Premier has something to share with us that I'm not aware of. I don't understand what he's working with. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, when two sides at a bargaining table come to an impasse, that isn't the end of the whole process. Mr. Speaker, there is a process of mediation; there's a process of arbitration. Those are things that the federal Minister responsible for the Canada Labour Code has to make decisions on. So, Mr. Speaker, really we're partway through a process here. There's other steps that can be followed and should be pursued before our government, without any authority in this matter, tries to intervene in this. So, Mr. Speaker, I just urge both sides to work toward an agreement. If they can't do it at the negotiating table, there are other measures that can be taken. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Premier make a commitment to this House that he would talk to the federal Minister of Labour in order to ascertain that they're paying close attention to this issue, and to see what are the options that the government has to ask them to mediate or whatever federal process there is? I'd like to know if he could report to the House about what his options are in that regard. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I have not spoken directly to Minister Blackburn on this issue. I have been talking on several occasions with Minister Prentice, the Minister of DIAND. I know he's very aware of this, and the federal government, who has authority in this matter, is watching this very closely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Oral questions. The honourable Member from the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke about the drug and alcohol programs in the Northwest Territories and I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, has his department reviewed the situation of the drug and alcohol treatment programs and would his department consider a project-by-project of treatment programs on the land versus the residential units that he has now in the Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the next week or so we're going to be finalizing and sending out a document for feedback in regards to next steps when it comes to alcohol and drug treatment and mental health treatment, as well. We'll be looking for feedback from the Members. We'll be sending it out far and wide across the land, to authorities, to chiefs and band councils and to cover all the whole spectrum of stakeholders. As well, if the Member has a specific suggestion or proposal he'd like to make, we're always prepared to, as the Member knows, work with him to see what is possible. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's offer in terms of offering some suggestions to proposals. He's being quite open about receiving them. I want to know now the next steps in terms of advising the stakeholders. It seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that during the Joint Review Panel hearings that communities have indicated that alcohol and drug treatment is the number one issue. We heard it over and over again. So I'm trying to understand why do another community consultation with the stakeholders? We know what it is. We read in the newspaper on a weekly basis on the crimes that are committed by using alcohol and drugs. So I think if the Minister is prepared to move to a next step, we'll get the programs in the communities on the land. So I want to ask the Minister would he again look at the reason for going back into the communities to talk to the stakeholders. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Member's statement yesterday he pointed out very clearly the debate between community services and enhancing those as opposed to building and focussing a lot, or almost extensively on the type of residential facilities and anywhere in between, as the discussion has unfolded. That's part of the issue that we're looking at. Clearly where we're up and down the valley, there's concern about the impending development of the proposed pipeline. We also have to sit down, now that we know for sure that there's been a commitment to the $500 million that is going to flow through the aboriginal governments and to the affected pipeline communities, to be able to sit down with them to look at how we pool our resources with those resources and determine what's the best way to move forward on a number of issues. If in fact at the end after these discussions, the decision is that we're going to enhance in a specific way alcohol and drug treatment services, then we will be looking at working closely with all the community groups, how that is done, keeping in mind that that $500 million is one-time money. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the $500 million has been committed. Residential school money is out, or shortly will be coming out. The communities want drug and alcohol programs in their communities. Tl'oondih has as good program in Fort McPherson. There's good programs down the Mackenzie Valley. Let's get the programs into communities right now. Let's not do any more consultation. Get the programs in there. There's workers that need the help and their families need help, so let's not do any more consultation. Get the programs in the communities. So I'll ask the Minister again, let's quit the consultation and let's have some action from this department to put programs in the communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll make sure I highlight that point about don't consult any more and get down to work when the Member next comes forward. Mr. Speaker, we have made a significant investment with dozens and dozens of positions and wellness workers and mental health workers across the land. We have made significant investments and we're going to continue to do that. The Member has stood up in this House and said let's take another approach with some on-the-land programs and a concept that he has contributed about 20 words to. I'm saying if the Member has a specific proposal and some detail that we can look at, tell us what it is and we'll be happy to sit down and look at it, and we'll also meet with the regions and communities and look at how that $500 million can be added to what we're doing to enhance services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister's to not consult...