Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday you may recall my honourable colleague Jane Groenewegen made an appeal regarding speech languages services. Today I would also like to speak on this very important service. In my region the school staff has requested these services for the past five years, and have been told that the only responsibility the speech language pathologist is to assess the students not to provide treatment plans or therapy in the schools. Which means Rae-Edzo has a visit twice a year, they assess children, write the assessment reports and mail back to the community. In many cases the report states that intensive speech language therapy is required and only if the parents bring their child to Yellowknife if time is available.

This, of course, costs money and time, which the Community Service Board pays. Recently, the Community Service Board requested the job descriptions of these pathologists which indicated that these language pathologists are to provide on-site assessments. Therapeutic or consultative service for pre-school and school-aged children as well as some service to the adults. These service are to be available at clinics in Rae Edzo, Wha Ti and Yellowknife for the residents of Rae Lakes and Snare Lakes. This is not happening in all cases the come for treatment to Yellowknife at considerable expense to the community service board. However, Yellowknife, the schools are privileged to get these services free for every six school days.

In one recent case from Rae Lakes a father brought his child to Yellowknife for a week of therapy. One half-hour session for five days. The cost of this service was approximately $2,000 in time, accommodation, travel, plus stress with the family being away from home. This is only once incident. Now with this in mind the fact of community empowerment, the Dogrib community service board request the immediate transfer of one position or a portion of one speech language pathologist funding. So we can at least provide this valuable service to our people. This position should be transferred no later than January 1, 1998. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.