Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in March of this year, when we had a lot of legislative matters still ahead of us, Members passed amendments to the Nursing Profession Act. As we near the closure of this Assembly, it is rewarding to look back and view the positive effects our legislation has had on various members of the nursing profession in the NWT.

In fact, passage of the amendments to the Nursing Profession Act has enabled our aboriginal people to realize a long-held dream of being able to receive the training and education to care for their own people. The nursing education now available to students in the Northwest Territories is tailored to meet national standards, thereby giving our graduates the freedom and ability to work anywhere in Canada. Once equipped with these highly-regarded qualifications, our students may well be in demand in countries throughout the world.

The majority of our first students are looking forward to finding work in or near their home communities. Over the years, our nurses have worked in every community in the NWT, winning people's admiration and respect. Initially, the nurses' role was to respond to the communities' health needs. As always, however, the nursing profession evolves to meet changing needs and the role of nurses in the north is always changing.

I am confident that the nurses' future role will be that of informing and assisting community members to take more responsibility for their own health. As members in the communities gain more autonomy and authority, the nurses will help them gain more control over their well-being. In this capacity, nurses will work with the communities to identify their health needs, define methods of approaching problems and to utilize available resources. Therefore, while nurses fill key positions in community development, they will also continue to promote good health standards, restore the sick to health, and lead cooperative campaigns to prevent illnesses.

As the departments of Health and Social Services become amalgamated, the face of health care systems will change. But one thing is certain, and that is the ongoing need...

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to conclude.