It was hard to understand this when it is typically available nearly everywhere else in Canada. I hope that my statement will encourage him to try again, and that my words and the words of the people I serve will be heard by those who makes these decisions.
To begin with, let us be perfectly clear. We are not seeking or speaking of a high-cost program. This is not an attempt to place unreasonable expectations on existing medical facilities. It is understood that our medical services will not be available or have the capacity to perform transplants in our health centres or even here in our Stanton hospital for some time to come. We are not seeking the establishment of medical research centres that are rivals to anywhere else, at least not in the area of organ and tissue transplant. There are many other areas that northern medical centres can and should devote their resources to. Transplants are not expected to be performed in the Northwest Territories.
However, in our population, we have people who die tragically young. We have people who travel extensively and often to major centres. We have people who, perhaps, for serious medical reasons, will spend time and perhaps even die while in a medical centre in the south. In light of this, premature, unexpected death can and does occur while one is in or near the environment of a large medical facility equipped to perform such transplants. Northern people can contribute to those who are in need, we have already and we wish to continue. Northern people can also receive the gift of life through the organ and tissue transplant program.
How many people have received the benefit of a corneal transplant, thus restoring lost eyesight through disease or accident? Madam Speaker, I would seek unanimous consent of yourself and of Members to continue.