Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that the Minister suggests that we are going to reprofile budgets, but I do not think the kind of money that we need is going to be found within the current budget. I mean, I think that with reprofiling, there are some possibilities there, but it is almost sketchy at best. I am wondering if the Minister might tell us where she is intending to take the money from? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. I would like to thank her for opening the forum report and reading the mandate and letting us know that possibly no new money was being considered.

One of the recommendations in the report is that we increase spending on addictions treatment, and this seems to be in direct contradiction to what she had stated. I would argue that if she is not prepared to lobby for new money for health and social services, she essentially will be dusting furniture in Pompeii.

If this government continually makes addictions treatment a priority but turns around and shuts treatment centres in Inuvik and shuts treatment centres in Yellowknife, I am concerned. I wonder if the Minister can give us the status of addictions treatment in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk about the Minister's Forum on Health and Social Services. First, I would like to say it is nice to see some young people here today with some interest in the proceedings. I think it helps remind us all what we are doing here. Thank you for coming out.

Today, I will have some questions for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services on the Minister's Forum, specifically in the area of addictions. The forum recommended increased spending on addictions treatment. I think this is a very worthwhile recommendation and it must become a priority for this government. I think it is also important to remember that one of our goals should be to have people treated in their home communities. We have heard Mr. Lafferty lobby time and again for a wellness centre in his community, which would be an envelope for drug and alcohol and social service responsibilities and treatments.

This is a very important request for a couple of reasons. I think we all know it is very disruptive for patients to be moved out of their home communities for treatment in larger centres. The incidents of relapse after taking a person out of their community for treatment is much higher than if they were treated in their home communities.

I am very familiar with the tax on the situation in Yellowknife. I think our dollars are stretched to the limit. As a magnet community, we deal with an influx of patients from smaller communities. It is very difficult for us. For these two reasons, especially the benefit of our citizens to be treated in their home communities, it is important this government make this a priority. Today, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services specifically on the issue of addictions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. I know there was a review done with the program. While we may want to look to see if there is anybody trying to work around the rules, do we now track any of those purchases? Have we done any follow up to ensure the rules are being adhered to? Is that part of the review process? Thank you.

Thank you. If the Minister could just give me a little clarification, again, with regarding the details of the program. The concern has been brought to me by some of my constituents that, although the Minimum Downpayment Assistance Program was well meaning and well intentioned, that in some instances southern residents were able to buy homes in the Northwest Territories and utilize them as revenue properties. Now, while I understand we may have wanted to encourage southern residents to purchase homes here with the idea of relocating, if relocation was not in their plans, was it possible for southerners to buy homes essentially as revenue properties? Thank you, Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be in favour of this bill today. I would like to talk a little bit about the proposed changes. In 1992 was the last time we raised student financial assistance amounts; 1992 is a long time ago. I think it is high time this government did something to put more money into the pockets of students. This is certainly a step in the right direction. I applaud the government for taking that step.

With tuition skyrocketing, students can no longer cope. I think we can all see that this is a scary reality. However, as we have said many times, there really is no new money. It is very important that we look at exactly where the money for this program is coming from. I think much analysis is needed, and we will look at that in committee, to see if we truly are doing the most equitable and beneficial thing for the Northwest Territories.

I think we have to look at the treatment for the various different groups of students. We say that for some students, we are solving their tax problems by taking away grants and giving them remissible loans. I would argue we are just giving them a whole new set of problems, Mr. Speaker. As to the principle of this bill, I am certainly going to vote in favour of anything that puts more money into the pockets of students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document dated February 21, 2000 entitled, Student Financial Assistance Act Amendments. It was sent to all Members by the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just some clarification; was that most equitable or most politically satiable? I missed it, sorry. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point taken. The Minister has told us that through consultations, this was the most equitable solution we could find. I am wondering if the Minister can just let us know if there has been any discussion in the department about other solutions that might be more equitable? Or if this is the only thing that has been brought forward to his knowledge? Thank you.