Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last night, like Mr. Ootes said, I attended the briefing presented by the NWT Medical Association. Mr. Speaker, the president of the association, Dr. David Butcher, Dr. Jim Corkal, Dr. Angela Carruthers and Dr. John Shillington presented on behalf of the medical association.

The wide-ranging, free-wheeling discussion was, I believe, informative and opportune for the Members. The recurring theme throughout the meeting was what is happening with health care, recruitment, retention of staff and the medical services direction of the government. Mr. Speaker, we are politicians. We are not medical professionals. I think everyone in this House realizes there are concerns in the area of health. As noted by the NWTMA, the advantages to the regionalization of services are increased responsiveness to local needs, local input into program development and local responsibility for the use of health care resources. The disadvantages of the regionalization process are the fragmentation of existing physical and human resources and disparities and access to health care. Currently the regionalization process has created a fear of loss of the quality of health care and a loss of public confidence in the health care system in general. Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be questioning the Minister on some of these areas. Thank you.

--Applause