Thank you, Madam Chair. The Member has articulated the difficulty at this level trying to manage a system worth a billion for 42,000 people spread over 1.3 or so million square kilometres.
We do, in fact, and have over the years attempted many times to reform government and have reformed government at different junctures, strength at two levels. In the beginning of the 16th Assembly, the government of the day wanted to re-profile $150 million I think it was, or $75 million for savings and some cuts. There was a huge cry over that. You look at things that are dear to people’s hearts. You talked about board reform, supp health where people want to do things with good intentions but you get caught up in those types of circumstances. It is difficult.
We have, over the years, repatriated. That is why we have places like Trailcross and TTC here. The Member for Hay River will remember the effort it went through to get the unit built in Hay River to
repatriate adults from the South that could be served up North. The number of children and adults in care has gone back up in the southern jurisdictions. As the Minister indicated, some have very specific, highly complex needs that we can’t meet up here. Others – the Member is right – we have to keep monitoring. If there are ones that we can build another facility and repatriate, yes, that is definitely an initiative we have to pay attention to. These things, though, take time. It is not an easy business that we are in, but, once again, I appreciate the Member’s comments. She and I have been labouring in the field a long time here. Prior to that, Social Services together as well, so it is a long, slow process and road. Thank you.