Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on February 15th I made a statement in this House about the need for a youth shelter, specifically for time after midnight when the youth centre we have now closes because I indicated in this House that the young people have literally no place to go, especially in winter months. What they do is go down the Gold Range street and see things that probably are a bad influence; we shouldn’t have a situation where we have 16 to 18-year-olds walking all night long.

The Minister indicated that his department and his officials were working with the group and looking at all the variables to see what they can do. That weekend, I found out, Mr. Speaker, that the centre opened for the weekend and overnight. I thought I made a difference. I felt so satisfied. I felt so powerful that we actually were able to do something. We make small differences.

Well, I found out yesterday that the funding was for five weeks. It started two weekends ago and it’s going to end at the end of March. Mr. Speaker, that’s a shame. I don’t know what the Minister has planned for those kids who are walking between midnight and 7:00 in the morning. They have no place to go and they are just ripe for the picking by people who are selling drugs and encouraging them to do all sorts of things.

I have to also point out, Mr. Speaker, that while this government is growing, RWED is creating 22 extra jobs, the Housing Corporation is spending $2 million more on a project that completely failed in its initial year, we are cutting program money, not only for the youth shelter but also for the Children and the Women’s Recovery Program. I just learned that the COPS program that was started by Yellowknife citizens is not going to get any funding from government at all. I think, Mr. Speaker, that our young constituents on our streets will tell you that we have our priorities all screwed up and I think it’s about time that we fix it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause