Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the end of August, I publicly raised the issue of the concern about the proposed formula for health boards that would have seen a shift of up to $13 million from western health boards to eastern health boards. It was shameful, Mr. Speaker.
However, having publicly raised the issue, I would also like to publicly thank the Minister for hearing the concerns of the people of Fort Smith and the Western Arctic and agreeing to a wise course of action that would not see any cuts to the health boards budgets for the life of this government.
Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not comment on the alacrity as well with which the Premier joined the fray. He was on the air very quickly and the one phrase that stuck in my mind was he said that I was irresponsible. Mr. Speaker, I may be irrepressible or irresistible, but never irresponsible.
My colleague from Iqaluit, the prince of pontification, also joined the fray and kept the level of debate where he is most comfortable.
Very clearly, Mr. Speaker, on the march to division, the issue of equity and fairness east and west is going to be paramount in all our minds, so that at the end of the day we have a win situation when we hit April 1999.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, to my Cabinet colleagues for their wise decisions.