Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to express my appreciation to the Special Committee on Health and Social Services for visiting Rankin Inlet last week. The special committee organized a series of hearings and workshops in order to allow members of the public to express their views on the organization and the delivery of health and social services.

Mr. Speaker, I was quite frankly surprised by the degree of interest expressed in the work of the special committee among the residents of my community. Large turn-outs characterized all of the workshops and there was a broad representation from all segments of the Rankin Inlet population.

Many elders participated, care givers attended and even the students at school were part of the action. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this high level of participation indicates that people in Rankin Inlet are seriously concerned about the status of health and social conditions in the region. It was clear from many of the comments that the people are quite frankly hurting. It was also clear that there are many sources of dissatisfaction with the government's approach to responding to the pain.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the Report of the Special Committee on Health and Social Services. I hope it is direct, blunt and to the point. Clearly the many issues surrounding health care delivery and the availability of social services need much more political attention. We must give them the time and the priority they deserve. The people are struggling to find solutions to ever-increasing social problems. I have every confidence that the special committee's report, when complete, should bring forward a credible plan, a blueprint for doing things differently and easing the pain experienced in so many of our communities.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want once again to thank the special committee and in particular the Co-Chairs, Mr. Dent and Mr. Nerysoo, for taking the time to travel into the region to listen to the people. The bureaucrats in the departments could learn a great deal from doing exactly the same. Thank you.

---Applause