Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Government Leader. Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions since session has started I have directed my questions to the former Minister of Health regarding interpreting staff who speak the Natilikmiot dialect at the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. To my disappointment, Mr. Speaker, I was provided with the name of someone from another community who does not speak the dialect of Natilikmiot.
Given that the medical profession is highly recognized and that there has to be an understanding between the doctor and the patient in order for the treatment...(microphone turned off)...did I speak without the microphone?
The medical profession is highly recognized, and one of the most important requirements for treatment to be successful, is that the doctor and patient be able to understand one another.
Since we do not have any interpreting staff which speaks my dialect and we have a number of unilingual patients coming from Pelly Bay, Gjoa Haven and Spence Bay to Yellowknife for medical treatment, would the Minister consider, before the hiring of new staff, providing an escort who would be able to translate/interpret for patients travelling to Yellowknife? Thank you.