Mr. Andersen’s line of questioning is provided below.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. ANDERSEN: Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday the Premier expressed concern of incidents that are occurring on George Street in downtown St. John’’s. No doubt, Mr. Speaker, a concern to a lot of people in this Province. The Premier also stated that he has contacted the Mayor of St. John’’s and the Chief of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary to discuss this serious issue. Mr. Speaker, the Aboriginal communities on the North Coast of Labrador are losing far too many of its young people, many through suicides. I ask the Premier: Will you also take extra measures as well, to try and help solve the serious problems facing the Aboriginal communities on the North Coast of Labrador?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for that question. It is obviously an issue of very grave importance to the people of the Province and something that we are all very sensitive to and very very aware of. We have taken an initiative, of course, through the Budget to increase social workers in that particular area of the Province. As well, I can make a commitment to the member that if there are any particular matters he wants to discuss with me at any particular point in time, then he does have our commitment as a government to certainly pursue that very worthwhile situation. I must say, it is something that is of great sensitivity to all of us. As Premier of the Province, this particular incident on George Street, it drew attention - it has drawn public attention and we have reacted to it. I can certainly give you my commitment as Premier that any issues like that in your particular district, we will react in a similar manner and a very responsible manner.

Thank you again for that question.

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. ANDERSEN: Premier, your government in its recent Budget cancelled funding for Aboriginal constables in Makkovik and Rigolet, granted your Justice Minister is giving full co-operation in trying to provide funding from the federal government and talks are encouraging. Premier, this all takes time. There is a federal election pending, and where the present funding from the Province for these Aboriginal constables expires in June of this year: Will your government extend this funding for an additional six months, at a cost of $70,000, so the communities will not lose these highly regarded and trained professionals until a permanent solution can be worked out?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. T. MARSHALL: Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Torngat Mountains for his question.

As he is aware, he and I have been in almost daily contact about this issue for the past couple of weeks. As I indicated to him yesterday privately, if the Inuit communities are prepared to provide me with correspondence that they are prepared to enter into a tripartite agreement involving the federal government, the provincial government and all of the Inuit Aboriginal communities, than I am prepared to take up with the Premier the view of interim funding to keep those offices.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for Torngat Mountains.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. ANDERSEN: Again, Minister, I say to you, this all takes time and the present funding runs out the last of June, and with the federal election upcoming, it is going to take quite some time.

My final question is for the Premier. Since you became Premier you have travelled to different parts of this country and also to foreign countries trying to promote our Province. It is something that you have every right to do as Premier and leader of your government. However, if you are serious, and I am sure you are, in trying to help the Aboriginal communities on the North Coast of Labrador: Premier, will you commit at your convenience, and as soon as possible, to do a tour and see and hear from the people as to how we might work together to address some of the problems they face on the North Coast of Labrador?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Premier.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

PREMIER WILLIAMS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Once again, I thank the hon. member for a very valid question, a very worthwhile suggestion, and I will make that commitment. I thank you for saying, at your convenience, as you realize time is of the essence. We have a lot of challenges before us, as a people and as a Province. But I will certainly do that and I understand that my minister already has a trip planned there herself. So it is certainly something that I will commit to do.