Mr. Chairman, I believe that most of the topics that were raised by the Member had been raised a little earlier. I know that these issues continue to be raised. Most of the issues raised by the Member are issues that are handled by the Baffin Regional Health Board. My understanding is that they have a very similar policy and guidelines and also initiatives to make sure that translation communication is in place. As I say, in these areas there's always room for improvement. What I will do is take the comments from the Member and write them up in a memo and relate them to the Baffin Regional Health Board and have a discussion around these issues with them because they are closer to the points that have been made. I can ask for a response as well. I will undertake to personally communicate with the Baffin Health Board in writing and ask them to reply and see if they can offer some solutions or give some explanations on areas where they may have been making improvements over the long-term.

In terms of the compassionate travel, I realize that this is always a big issue when someone is ill, because having any member of the family very ill or terminally ill is always a great concern. All the compassionate travel in the Northwest Territories, whether it's in the Baffin or the western or eastern Arctic. We do have compassionate travel guidelines which change from time to time, but are available. Compassionate travel guidelines require that a person wishing to travel to visit a relative who is in long-term institutional care or visit a relative in hospital who is critically ill, provide a medical certificate from the physician attending the patient to verify the person is in critical condition in hospital or to attend a funeral of a relative.

For visits to relatives in long-term care or critically-ill relatives, assistance may be given for one visit a year for the patient's next of kin. The next of kin refers to one person only and is the closest living relative in this order: a spouse; parent; brother or sister; another relative the patient lived with before being hospitalized; an escort, if one is necessary; and, an interpreter. These are the general guidelines but I know, from time to time, these are stretched. I will take the comments under consideration as we continue to look at how we are going to provide assistance to the ill and the people who are close family to the people who have to leave home to seek medical treatment. Thank you.