Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This motion or recommendation was developed with a great deal of consideration placed into it. There was concern expressed when we travelled in the Deh Cho region, particularly in the Fort Simpson area of the fact that they were absent of a board. They felt the Mackenzie director, Tom Menzies was basically
the one doing all of the decision-making with respect to health delivery in the Deh Cho region. When we look at the whole area of health, prior to the transfer, Mr. Chairman, it was always deemed that the transfer was to be addressed as much as we could by the community people through the formation of a board. However, if we look at the regions, I believe every region has a board except for the Deh Cho. The Inuvik region has a regional board for their health centre, the Baffin region, the Keewatin region, the Yellowknife region, the Hay River region, and Fort Smith did. However, if you look at Deh Cho, it is in isolation without a board. It is run by a public administrator.
I think since we have taken the liberty of devolving health to the territories, we really should consider a regional board of health be established in the Deh Cho. I do not believe that we have to do it right away, but I think the department should start developing that and making some plan to let this Legislative Assembly know when they are going to consider this. With respect to this recommendation, this is the intent, we are recommending that a regional board of health be established in the Deh Cho region as opposed to a public administrator delivering the health services for the Department of Health. Thank you.