Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the nursing situation in Wrigley and the positive steps taken by the community and the Mackenzie Regional Health Services to work together to solve their problems. In August, Madam Speaker, a situation arose in Wrigley in which the nurse was verbally threatened for refusing to treat someone in what she thought was an unsafe location. Consequently, Madam Speaker, the nurse left the community and Wrigley was left without a nurse and with minimal local health care service.

With worries about the elders and children and the possibility of someone being hurt on the job, Chief Gabe Hardisty and the band held a public meeting with Mackenzie Regional Health Services to hear the community's concern and to work out a solution to the problem.

The results of that meeting and meetings held after by the community, Madam Speaker, was the formation of a community health committee. A committee, along with 10 other volunteers, will help the nurse in dealing with her concerns, and offer the nurse assistance in any dangerous situation. In turn, Madam Speaker, I believe this committee will provide an excellent forum for the residents to voice their opinions to the community nurse in a non-adversarial way.

This new system will put the word "community" back into the community nurse position. Thanks to the efforts of community residents, the band and the Mackenzie Regional Health Services in setting up this community health committee system, Chief Gabe Hardisty was able to convince the nurse who had left Wrigley that she would have the support of the community should she decide to return.

Madam Speaker, I am happy to say that the nurse has returned to Wrigley and, consequently, the community was spared the long wait that accompanies the filling of such an important position. It must be noted, Madam Speaker, that the nurse position in Wrigley is still being filled on an interim basis and that Mackenzie Regional Health Services is looking for someone permanent.

This is a local solution to a local problem. However, Madam Speaker, it will be necessary for the government to provide nominal, ongoing funding for administrative support for the community health committee to ensure that this excellent program does not fade away after two or three years of operation.

Again, my thanks on behalf of the constituents in Wrigley and my admiration for all those involved in working to solve this health care problem there. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

---Applause