I have a return to oral question asked by Mrs. Marie-Jewell on March 19, 1993, regarding the status of recommendations on the abortion review.

Mr. Speaker, on March 19,1993, the Member for Thebacha asked me what the department's progress was on the abortion review committee's recommendations.

Mr. Speaker, the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital is proceeding with implementation of the recommendations and will be providing an update to the department following its board meeting in April, 1993.

With respect to the other NWT hospitals, abortions have been provided to women from the Inuvik region at the Inuvik Regional Hospital since mid-January, 1993. Abortion services are expected to be available at the Baffin Regional Hospital by mid-May, 1993. Health professionals in the Baffin region will be provided with instruction on abortion counselling at a nursing conference to be held in Iqaluit in May, 1993. Community health representatives in the Baffin region will have a workshop on abortion counselling next week.

Mr. Speaker, the H H Williams Memorial Hospital and the Department of Health have agreed that while abortions will not be performed at the hospital, clients will be referred to the public health unit in Hay River for counselling and information on the availability of services in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.