Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government is working hard to create a work-force which reflects the population it serves, and to help northerners get the education and training they need to access jobs. My colleagues and I believe that many more northerners should be working in the health care system.
There are more than 370 registered nursing positions in the Northwest Territories. Less than six of these are filled by aboriginal people. To encourage more northerners and aboriginal people to enter the nursing profession, Arctic College will be offering a nursing diploma program this September.
The program will be developed and delivered in cooperation with Yukon College, the NWT Registered Nurses' Association, the Department of Health, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs, hospital boards and aboriginal organizations.
The nursing diploma program will consist of two years of registered nursing instruction, and a practicum which will likely run for an additional semester. When students have finished the program, they may write the national registration exam, and if they are successful, enter the work-force. Students interested in continuing their education may enter the final two years of a bachelor of nursing program at university.
The program will be tailored to meet the needs of individuals. Students who lack the academic background to enter the program directly will be able to take a year of upgrading. Candidates who have a grade 12 advanced diploma may enter the first year of the program, while certified nursing assistants may enter the second year directly based on individual assessments. Mature students will have their previous education assessed, and will be placed at an appropriate point in the program. We also wish to encourage health care workers presently employed in the health care system to take advantage of this program.
Mr. Speaker, special attention will be paid to student support, particularly in the areas of accommodation, child day care, academic and cultural support and career counselling. Students will be eligible for funding under the student financial assistance program. This flexible approach, which allows students to work towards their specific career goals, has already been successful in areas such as teacher education and social services.
Mr. Speaker, as a result of this program we expect that 300 northerners will be trained and placed in nursing positions across the Northwest Territories over the next 20 years. As a result, health care services will largely be provided by people who understand the language and the culture of the people they care for. We expect this will result in better communication, an increase in preventative health care and help lower costs in the long run because of anticipated reductions in staff turnover and recruiting costs. We expect the financial benefits to this government will exceed the annual costs of delivering the program in less than ten years.
Mr. Speaker, the health care system touches the lives of everyone in our society. I believe the nursing diploma program will play an important part in increasing the participation of northerners in health care, and in making the system more responsive to the needs of northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause