Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to pay tribute to an organization in my home community of Kimmirut. The group, Ikaarutit, was started one and a half years ago by volunteers and local leaders, Jeannie Padluq and Kowisa Arlooktoo. The name means, bridge or a way to crossover.

Ikaarutit raises money to pay for tickets for family members who cannot afford to visit very sick relatives or to attend funerals. To date, the group has raised and spent over $10,000 and have assisted in helping many families to deal with their grief and healing.

Mr. Speaker, at one point, the government helped to pay for compassionate travel expenses of those on income support, but this program was eliminated during the deficit reduction exercise a few years ago. I would note that this was not solely a result of budget cutbacks as there were also real issues of fairness as to who received program benefits.

My point is, Mr. Speaker, these two community leaders recognized a problem and worked to solve it in the community by creating this organization. This is a real example of community self-reliance and I am proud.

Mr. Speaker, my constituency office receives, on average, one or two calls a week from family members who cannot afford to go see a terminally ill family member in one of the Montreal/Ottawa hospitals or to attend a funeral of a family member.

Mr. Speaker, not including the expense of hotels and meals, the cost of visiting someone in the hospital from Kimmirut is over $2,100 return. Aggravating these already stressful situations is that usually the person in the hospital or the one who must make the visit is the main income earner for the family and must take leave without pay. Sick leave or special leave credits do not last long. Mr. Speaker, there are also the additional costs of ensuring that the family left at home is being looked after financially and otherwise.

Needless to say, Mr. Speaker, I personally know families that have lost loved ones due to cancer, other diseases or by accident and have become financially bankrupt during the process. There are many families close to the same situation as I speak. When constituents talked to me about this issue, the area they stressed was the apparent unfairness. Mr. Speaker, I notice I am out of time, I would like to conclude my statement.