Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Member is correct. The recruitment piece is essential. Right now, we're pulling people in from outside the territories and it shouldn't be that way. We should be able to have training here in the Northwest Territories. We have many institutions that we can be able to provide health training. I agree with the Member's comments about having the careers in earlier schools, so that way students can understand that they need certain courses in order to get their grade 12 and carry on into a nursing profession. I agree, and that's something that the department of education, culture, and department of health can have a look at to start to capture students at earlier grades so that they can take the appropriate courses so that they can go right into college for a nursing profession. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Are there further comments to this section? Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Madam Chair. I'm looking at page 168, the French language services, $970,000, which stands out. As you know, the population of the Northwest Territories, the majority is Aboriginal-language-speaking people. Is that due to the course of a federal contribution towards the French language services? Is that why it's identified on its own? That would be my first question. Masi.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Yes, that is correct.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Madam Chair. If that's the case, I think we, as a territorial government responsible for Stanton, territorial government needs to push more to identify similar to French language. I know that the French population is aggressive. We need to be aggressive, as well, Aboriginal-language-speaking people in the Northwest Territories, because a majority of our communities speak the language, but it's not identified here on its own. I would like to see that even more. I guess a direction to either the Minister or the department to push that with the federal government. I know the federal government increased Aboriginal language funding to ECE just recently, not too long ago, so they've identified the importance of Aboriginal language. If we can identify that here as part of a line similar to French language services, with identification of funding, that would be very much appreciated. Is the Minister willing to push that from her end with the federal government and her colleagues from Nunavut and the Yukon territory, as well? Masi.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you. That is absolutely something we should be looking at. The Member did identify that, here in the Northwest Territories, we have the majority of our residents Indigenous, and the language piece is so important. I spoke earlier in the House about the translation and how important that is for patients coming in and to be able to have those services available to them. That is something that we would look at. That's a key part of the services, is to be able to have that language aspect, so that's important. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member.

Masi, Madam Chair. Obviously, whenever we're in session, the federal government is listening to us, looking out for our discussion here. Clearly, this is of importance to the Northwest Territories. We have 11 official languages, and the federal government only recognizes two. We recognize our 11 official languages, and we have to stand firm to say, "These are our own Northwest Territories. We identify nine Aboriginal languages." We need to identify that as part of our budget going forward.

In the previous terms when I was education Minister, I spoke my language to the federal government, and they always put their earpiece on. They had no idea what I was saying, but I was making a point to them, that we do exist, and there are Aboriginal languages out there. I'm glad the Minister is willing to pursue that with the federal minister, but it will take time, but we've done it with ECE. There's been an increase on federal. I don't see why Health and Social Services, I'm sure we can do that, too. It has to take a firm approach from all of us, and I just want to highlight that, Madam Chair. More of a comment, but it's the importance of the language to be identified in the budget. Masi.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. I will just take that as a comment. Are there further questions to this section? If there are no further questions, please turn to page 167. Health and Social Services, administrative and support services, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $52,038,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you. We will move to Health and Social Services programs, beginning on page 170, with information up to page 174. Questions? Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I have a couple of questions for this page. It's a very expensive page in our book. It's very obvious that health has a lot of fabulous health and social programs, and one of the ones we've heard the most about in the last few years has been the child and family services program. I notice that the increase for the child and family services program in the budget this year is just under half a million dollars. I'm wondering if the Minister can speak to whether or not that is enough money for this program to cover what they would like to achieve with child and family services?

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Right now under the child and family services, we do have the quality improvement plan that we are looking at, and we are also looking at innovative ways to be able to meet what our standards are. We continuously try to improve where we can. If the Member is asking: do we want more money in the budget line item? Of course, we do, if we can. This is where we are at right now with the child and family services. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would be curious to know if the Minister can speak to what it would cost for them to be able to address the issues raised in the Auditor General's report? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. That is a big question. We looked at the Auditor General's report, and there were a lot of actions. That is something our department can go back to have a look at. Maybe I'll turn it over to Mr. Cooper.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Cooper.