Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over 150 young children that live in the South Slave region have been diagnosed as requiring the services of a speech and language pathologist. If these children do not receive professional services, the road ahead is going to be particularly difficult. Language is the main method of establishing and maintaining social relationships. It is also central to the acquisition of many academic skills, particularly literacy. Our government has acknowledged that education is fundamental to self sufficiency. For these young children and their families each day is filled with frustration.
As a government we only know the situation from what is presented to us on paper. We do not experience the challenges of the affected families. It is vital to the lives of these children that they have early intervention from speech pathologists. It would cost the government less than $56 per child, per year, for a speech language pathologist to be located in Hay River, for the benefit of all of the South Slave region.
The services that a speech language pathologist provide include: working with individuals with hearing impairment, autism, developmental, emotional, behavioural and physical handicaps. They also work with children with speech and voice problems.
In the South Slave at present, we have the services of a speech language pathologist from the Stanton Regional Hospital. This person is very capable, but the demand is such that most of the time is spent diagnosing cases, not in treating them. Often the treatment has to be administered by parents and teachers.
The South Slave region receives visits from a speech pathologist three times a year, and this is not enough for the number of cases that we have. The people of the South Slave have pursued the placement of a speech language pathologist in Hay River, but have been informed that is not possible under present economic conditions.
Presently in the Northwest Territories, there are six language speech pathologists. Five are located in Yellowknife and one in Inuvik. The five in Yellowknife service the whole territories. If families want to receive services outside of those offered by Stanton, they have to get a doctor's referral to Edmonton and pay for it themselves.
I reiterate the need for a speech language pathologist to be situated in Hay River. We have an unaddressed need and I will be working with my colleagues in pursuing this issue on behalf of my constituents with the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.