Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on January 27, 1992, the Keewatin Regional Health Board issued a news release indicating that a dentist who provided dental services to patients in the Keewatin Region had died three days earlier as a result of an AIDS related disease. This was confirmed by information from the office of the government's press secretary in Yellowknife.

As I understand it, Mr. Speaker, all available scientific evidence suggests that the risk of a dentist or, indeed, any health care professional, infecting patients with the HIV condition is extremely slight. The risk is further reduced when appropriate infection control procedures, such as the ones used by the Canadian Dental Association, are used.

It is my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that the dentist, the late Dr. Ian Carmichael, was diligent in using these infection control procedures. I am also aware that the acting chief medical health officer for the Northwest Territories has assured the public that risk to patients who received dental care from Dr. Carmichael is very low. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, anyone who knows the history of epidemics in the Keewatin Region or, for that matter, the vast devastation caused by disease at certain times in our history, in all regions of the Northwest Territories, will surely understand the utter dread that exists at the very thought of widespread HIV infection in our small northern communities.

I believe there are certain questions which should be asked about the situation, not from an alarmist perspective but in the interest of accountability. It is important to ensure that the statutory and procedural mechanisms that this government has put into place to protect our northern communities from the spread of communicable disease are equal to the task and will safeguard our people adequately. It is for this reason -- and definitely not the reason, or any sort of reason, to raise unwanted alarm -- that I will be asking some questions in the House today, of the Minister of Health. Thank you.