Thank you, Madam Speaker. Here is another reality, Madam Speaker. I want to rise today to speak on the denturist presently attempting to run a business in Yellowknife.

Madam Speaker, the source of all this gentleman's problems is in inadequate pieces of legislation that ensure all powers remain with the dentists operating in the Northwest Territories. Why are the dentists so reluctant to give up their control of the Dental Mechanics Act in the Northwest Territories? It may be that the dentists have a new list of concerns about the professionalism of dental mechanics operating in the Northwest Territories if the dentist must have control to ensure the safety of NWT dental patients. I suggest to you, Madam Speaker, that their objection to the denturist operating has more to do with financial concerns than any amount of concerns on their part for the well-being of the Northwest Territories dental patients.

What I mean by this, Madam Speaker, is that I've heard from a reliable source that it costs the dentist approximately $200 to send a referral to the dental lab in Edmonton or Winnipeg. However, Madam Speaker, under the uninsured health benefits of the Indian Health Act, these dentists are billing the government $800 to $1,000.

In most cases, when it is known that the referral is an aboriginal individual, the dental lab uses the cheapest material and processes to do the work. The end result, Madam Speaker, is dentures that don't fit or are painful to use. In either case, it means that the patient does not use the dentures. Madam Speaker, as the honourable Member for Yellowknife South mentioned before Christmas, there have been cases of people using carving knives to effect the necessary repair on dentures instead of having to wait the three to six months it takes the dental labs down south to do the job.

Madam Speaker, I'm one of those people who require partial plates. I would prefer to have a local denturist who I would go to at any time...