Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have an emergency statement. During the past weekend, 18 children were sent out from the Keewatin to Manitoba because of chest infections. The health centre nurse believed that most were suffering from a croupy illness called respiratory syncytial virus, usually referred to as RSV. RSV is a common winter infection of babies that makes it hard for them to breathe. This winter it has been particularly prevalent in the Prairie Provinces, in fact Saskatchewan has hundreds of cases. Last winter, there were many cases in the northern Baffin region. The last NWT outbreak was in Sanikiluaq in 1991.

Mr. Speaker, the department will be sending an experienced medical health officer into the region tomorrow to assess the situation and to assist the health board in dealing with the matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.