Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last Thursday night, I and my colleagues, Mr. Henry and Mr. Erasmus, held a constituency meeting. We had a good turnout and it was obvious many people are concerned with issues that require our attention. There was certainly no shortage of concerns. Concerns were raised on the western constitutional process, the diamond valuating and sorting facility, the increase in cost to the public when government privatizes services like vehicle licensing and the need for a northern trauma centre. Questions about why every government directive and regulation that Cabinet deals with seems to have a notwithstanding clause. The student financial assistance program, the victims of crime fund, the need for a consistent policy to remunerate those provide who services as faith healers and funding needs of the North Slave Metis Alliance. All the issues and questions raised are certainly very important and significant but in the interest of time, I will speak only about several here.
Of major concern to some of those present was the state of the local economy and the need to create jobs. For Metis leaders like Bill Enge, Sholto Douglas and Clem Paul of the North Slave Metis Alliance, like many other local leaders and citizens, the location of the diamond valuation and sorting facility in Yellowknife is an important issue. The Metis leaders stressed that the benefits of diamond mining must stay in the north. They urged the Yellowknife MLAs to take a collective supportive position to ensure this facility is operated in our community.
The need for a trauma recovery centre for survivors of sexual abuse was recommended. Trauma cases are now sent to Homewood Facility in Guelph, Ontario at an astronomical expense to this government. Because of the cost and distance, the number of individuals who can participate in that program is restricted. The suggestion was made that a facility here in the north would be more productive. We spend a lot of money, as a government, treating substance abuse but very little on the underlying causes of the abuse, like emotional trauma. The suggestion made by our constituents for a trauma centre deserves our consideration.
A constituent raised an interesting point about the government's privatization program which is costing the government more money now then when the government was providing the service. Mr. Speaker, I note the time is running out on me and I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.