Mr. Speaker, I have an emergency statement that I would like to proceed with. Mr. Speaker, I am rising to make an emergency statement to the Assembly on the matter of health care in the Northwest Territories. Over the past two weeks, serious allegations about the quality of hospital service and the treatment of patients have been made publicly and in this Assembly. The result has been an undermining of people's confidence in a medical system which I believe is one of the best in the world.
As a result, the Minister of Health came to me this morning and asked that I relieve him of the responsibility for the Department of Health. I have accepted his decision to step down as Minister of Health, and I will assume responsibility for that department on an interim basis, pending the report of the independent inquiry into abortion procedures at Stanton Yellowknife Hospital.
Mr. Speaker, as a former Minister of Health, I am well acquainted with the people throughout the medical system, and I know that all Members of the Legislative Assembly want to ensure the ' best possible care for people in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.