Mr. Speaker, March is Aboriginal Languages Month, and as such, I want to show a little respect. [English translation not provided.]

[Translation] The social service workers need more money. [Translation ends]

The budding Social Work Program in the Northwest Territories has been showing great promise, and as such, our two-year program is starting to ask itself, why are we not a four-year program?

In my opinion, the Aurora College program has been doing fantastic work here. It has reached an incredible success, so successful the students want more, the community wants more.

When I talk to the students and I talk to the instructors, you can see and feel the enthusiasm they have for the Social Work Program. They talk about the things they can do, how they can reach their community. You see their eyes shine with the great excitement. You see that they want a bright future for their community.

The excitement is infectious. But we have a two-year program, a program that continues to only offer the diploma program even though the students and the community call for more. It's time we reach in and grab a hold of that enthusiasm and ask ourselves are we doing enough for our community, are we tapping into the enthusiasm of the social workers, are we grabbing this great opportunity. Let us not let it slip by and go unnoticed.

The students are calling upon us and saying they'd like the extension of the Social Work Program so we can offer the degree here in the Northwest Territories, much in the same way we found a way for teachers to be taught here in the Northwest Territories and nurses to be taught here in the Northwest Territories. The students know they can take their two-year program and they know that they would have to go to Regina to finish their program, but they'd like to do it here. They'd like to do it in their home; they would like to do it in their community. In some cases, they want to come to Yellowknife because it isn't offered in the small communities, but they want to be able to finish this programming here in the North for the people with whom they're working.

I have great respect for those who are in the Social Work Program and in the field. It is certainly a special calling, because we all know the numerous days are long and hard, but the rewards are great. They go to work each day trying to make a difference in people's lives and they can feel the change. It may be small but it's important. Let us not let that go by easily and let us ask ourselves this one question, which is, how can we make this happen?