Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the so-called "Northwest Territories Way" model for health care services proposed in the Strength at Two Levels document. I believe that this model is inadequate, and I am troubled by this government's intent to proceed with the implementation planning without the benefit of adequate public consultation, cost analysis or the involvement of health boards and professional associations.

Health organizations and the public at large from across the Northwest Territories have raised concerns about virtually every aspect of this health care proposal. They lack the confidence in the ability of the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital to function as a regional hospital. They are unwilling to witness the community hospitals being down-sized so that resources can be centralized in Yellowknife. We hear experts say that nurse practitioner models will not work.

In my own constituency, Mr Speaker, people are worried about the recommendation that our sick and elderly people should now have to travel all the way to Yellowknife for medical treatment instead of the long-established resource facilities in Churchill and Winnipeg, thereby doubling the flying time in some cases and increasing the medical risk associated with medevac travel.

The people of the Keewatin will not accept this particular part of the Beatty report. Public groups, aboriginal organizations, regional councils, professional associations and even the government's own advisory and management boards are revealing that they were never consulted when the proposed model was being developed.

Even the NWT Health Care Association, which, in my opinion, is a group that is too heavily influenced by the Stanton Yellowknife Board of Management to properly or dependably represent regional interests, has called on the Minister of Health to delay the implementation of the model until a comprehensive cost analysis can be completed and until the stakeholders in the health system can be adequately consulted. Similar positions have now been taken by the NWT Health Association, by the Keewatin and Deh Cho Regional Councils and by concerned citizens across the North.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I will also be asking the Minister of Health to respect these legitimate concerns and ensure that the implementation of the Beatty report...