Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is good news. When will that report be available and will that report be available to the communities to people actually dealing in the field with suicide so they would be able to take that report and hopefully use some of the findings from it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of the Minister, that indeed, the workshop occurring in Iqaluit now is a good step. Mr. Speaker, sometimes, when we are talking about suicides we do not have any type of statistic to show where intervention has actually worked and we have stopped someone from committing suicide. We only see when it actually occurs. Since 1990 after the major conference that developed a strategy and the focus that we have taken over the last eight years, is the Minister or is there any plan underway to facilitate another major conference like the one in 1990 to review where we have been and see what type of focus we can take for 1998 and beyond? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From January 1998 to August 28, 1998, there were 18 suicides in the Northwest Territories, 17 in Nunavut and only one here in the western Arctic. Can the Minister tell us, does the department itself actually have a specific strategy to deal with suicide and suicide prevention? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my earlier Member's statement, I would like to ask the Minister of Health some questions. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister inform us if we are funding or have in place a coordinated intervention program for suicide? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are few families in Nunavut who have not been touched by suicide. This government has spent considerable sums of money trying to address the problem, and we had workshops, training courses, awareness weeks and continued ongoing programs and strategies. Yet, the problem continues. Mr. Speaker, suicide is a very sensitive and emotional topic, but we have to deal with the issue and we have to review the programs and support initiatives we also have in place to deal with the families and communities dealing with the subject. We have to talk, Mr. Speaker, openly and honestly about the problem. I had an opportunity to speak to a large gathering of young people earlier this summer in Iqaluit. I spoke about suicide and tried to convey the message that it is okay to ask for help, it is okay to seek counselling and support from our schools, friends, parents and peers. Mr. Speaker, we have to pay more than lip service to the problem. We have to continue to work together as communities and families. We have to address the causes and then help find a solution. My own family has felt the pain of this issue over the last while and, Mr. Speaker, we are still seeking answers to why it happened. Are our programs working? What can we do differently to help those in need? Mr. Speaker, to the families in Iqaluit, my family and I offer our condolences over the tragedy of this past weekend. Later today, I will address some questions on the issue to the appropriate Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the policies that the boards follow, are those GNWT developed policies, authorized policies from the GNWT or actually those policies that the board can come up with? For example, if a health board in particular would like to finance, if they had it within their budget, medical escort travel or compassionate travel, are they able to do that or do they have to follow this policy which is set by the territorial government? Maybe the Minister could give us some clarification. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, where are those provisions outlined?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the implementation of the strategic health plan released by Mr. Ng today, he is looking at shaping our future through that strategic plan for health and wellness. I am wondering if the department has looked at the issue surrounding compassionate travel and medical escorts? This past summer I had a situation in my community where some people had died in Montreal and Ottawa and we were not able to bring them back home for burial because there was no money available through the government. I am wondering if the Minister has looked at compassionate travel and non-medical escorts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the concerns that we do have in Nunavut is the ability of Sport Nunavut to raise its own funds. To that end, over that last two years we have been able to open up 649 terminals in Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit to help generate revenue. I am wondering if the Minister knows of any other type of revenue generation ideas or indeed more of these terminals being opened in Nunavut to help sustain Sport Nunavut? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.