Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the issue of front-line workers and what we can do for them from within the Department of Health and Social Services is challenging because even though we are within the department, we are all within the UNW. Even the fact that if we had a separate union specific, we would all have to match the same sort of contract requirements that are in place. So coming up with another housing program specifically for employees is not within our grasp at this point.
I recall back in the 13th Assembly when that program was taken out between VTAs and the housing allowance program that touched us for about $32 million. I hesitate to guess what we would be touched for if we tried to put something back in place. That's where the northern allowance package was put in, was to deal with the higher cost of living in different communities around the Territories. For example, here in Yellowknife, it's just over $2,000. In Inuvik, it was just over $8,000. In the more remote communities, it's even higher. So that's the way of government to recognize the higher cost of living for all employees in the Territories, including the front-line positions. One of the areas for mental health and addictions workers is the training. What we are trying to do is increase the training that's available so they feel they are being supported by the department in the communities, as well as what we did over the years. For example, a lot of those positions were in the NGO part of our communities. We brought them within government and now they are consistent with our pay levels. So that's how we've dealt with that end of it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.