Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As we heard during the public hearings of the Special Committee on Health and

Social Services, the department really needs to take a look at the philosophy that it has right now. I realize it is a difficult process to deal with when you are faced with budget cuts and you are running from crisis to crisis. If we don't find some way to get our heads around a shift in philosophy whereby we set up programs and strategies to reduce illness and disease in advance, we are not going to have enough money to deal with the health problems of people in the north. The costs, if we try to stay reactive with our programs, will be out of reach in very short order.

I am glad to hear the Minister is considering a formula for public health nurses. I know, for instance, that of all the communities that have public health nurses, I am not aware of any that have had increases in the last seven or eight years. It is a concern here in Yellowknife. I am sure it is a concern in many of the communities. I don't think it is just the public health nurses. It is a philosophy that has to be embraced by the whole department -- a shift in the approach to providing health services to northerners. Public health nurses are a very important part of that, but I just want to impress on the Minister that it has to start with the Minister and work through the entire department. There has to be a shift in philosophy in the way we approach our health problems in the north or within three to four years we will run out of enough money to come anywhere near dealing with just day-to-day problems. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.