Thank you, Mr. Rabesca. Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to raise the issue of nursing shortages. Mr. Speaker, this problem is occurring all over the NWT. The government and our health boards are having to rely on private southern nursing agencies to fill the vacant positions for the community-based nurses. Several of the nurses have said that the long hours, stress, low pay and no VTA's have affected the retention and new hiring of nurses. I met several of the nurses at the Baffin hospital earlier this spring when they were holding a public demonstration about some of these issues. Mr. Speaker, does the government have the solid plan to hire and retain nurses? Later today I will ask the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services questions on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

The honourable Member for Hay River is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Mrs. Groenewegen, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak about the Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation's capital equipment campaign. Mr. Speaker, the Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation is undertaking a major fund raising campaign to raise approximately $2 million to acquire important diagnostic equipment for the hospital. A key piece of diagnostic equipment required is a CT scanner. People of all ages from newborns to seniors benefit from CT scans. A CT scanner produces detailed images of the body and is used to detect disease and internal problems in the head, spine, chest, abdomen, pelvis, arms and legs. For example, it is essential in the diagnosis and follow-up of various forms of cancer, for determining the cause and extent of stroke and the extent of traumatic injuries.

Mr. Speaker, all people in the north who require a CT scan must now travel to hospitals in southern Canada. There is no CT scanner available in the NWT. In a typical year, the Stanton Regional hospital pays over $600,000 in transportation for emergency patients to receive CT scans in the south. Today, the north is experiencing a severe shortage of general practice physicians. The ability to attract and train physicians in the future will be greatly enhanced if a CT scanner can be purchased for the hospital. The Stanton Regional Hospital is, in fact, a territorial hospital as it serves the entire western Arctic and Kitikmeot regions. Patients from the communities travel to the hospital in Yellowknife for both inpatient health care, outpatient services and emergency care. The hospital also provides travelling clinics of doctors and nurses to all communities to provide a broad range of medical services. In a typical year, over 17,000 patients from communities outside of Yellowknife in the western Arctic and Kitikmeot region alone are seen by the medical staff at Stanton.

Mr. Speaker, the Stanton Regional Hospital Foundation should be commended for embarking on this capital equipment campaign to raise $2 million, largely from businesses, organizations, individuals and various levels of government in the western Arctic and the Kitikmeot region. Mr. Speaker, I personally support this important initiative as a CT scanner will ensure that northerners will continue to receive a high standard of health care and not fall behind the level of diagnostic analysis and health services provided at hospitals in southern Canada. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Members' statement. Member for Kivallivik, Mr. O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, approximately a year ago, my home community of Arviat suffered a terrible loss when a ten-year old boy fell off his bicycle and his injuries were not recognized as serious. This young boy was sent home and, unfortunately, the next day died of his injuries, which was a stomach rupture. Mr. Speaker, only a few weeks ago, our sister community of Baker Lake suffered a similar loss, when nine-month old Luke Tunguaq was taken to the nursing station on a number of occasions by his parents, but sent home because his sickness was not determined to be serious. Mr. Speaker, this young child died the next day by noon time. Mr. Speaker, the reason I mentioned the death of these two young children is to illustrate the critical need for the nursing stations in Nunavut, in the north, so they should hire the highest calibre of nursing staff available in the country. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe this is happening. Mr. Speaker, our remoteness, our harsh weather conditions and the fact that most communities have no hospitals, no doctors, this alone should dictate that the nursing centres should have the best staff available. Mr. Speaker, I realize that the Minister spoke of long-term solutions, but I believe that we need, also, some short-term solutions immediately. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Iqaluit, the honourable Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are few families in Nunavut who have not been touched by suicide. This government has spent considerable sums of money trying to address the problem, and we had workshops, training courses, awareness weeks and continued ongoing programs and strategies. Yet, the problem continues. Mr. Speaker, suicide is a very sensitive and emotional topic, but we have to deal with the issue and we have to review the programs and support initiatives we also have in place to deal with the families and communities dealing with the subject. We have to talk, Mr. Speaker, openly and honestly about the problem. I had an opportunity to speak to a large gathering of young people earlier this summer in Iqaluit. I spoke about suicide and tried to convey the message that it is okay to ask for help, it is okay to seek counselling and support from our schools, friends, parents and peers. Mr. Speaker, we have to pay more than lip service to the problem. We have to continue to work together as communities and families. We have to address the causes and then help find a solution. My own family has felt the pain of this issue over the last while and, Mr. Speaker, we are still seeking answers to why it happened. Are our programs working? What can we do differently to help those in need? Mr. Speaker, to the families in Iqaluit, my family and I offer our condolences over the tragedy of this past weekend. Later today, I will address some questions on the issue to the appropriate Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Our condolences go to the family, as well. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq, Member for Baffin Central.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on January 22, 1998, in the Budget Address, the honourable Minister of Finance announced a new Northwest Territories Child Benefit that took the form of a tax-free payment provided to low-income families in the Northwest Territories. This benefit was in addition to the National Child Benefit Program that was unveiled by the Government of Canada in June 1998. The amount of money that the Northwest Territories Child Benefit Program supplies to each family is dependant upon the net income of the family. Mr. Speaker, the cost of living is very expensive in the Arctic, and varies from one community to the next. A net income of $42,000 in an isolated community does not have the same buying power that it would have in less isolated communities. The National Tax Benefit and the Northwest Territories Child Benefit are wonderful new ventures and I commend both governments for putting them into effect. However, Mr. Speaker, we can always strive to take something

that is good and make it better. As it stands, the Child Benefit packages given by both governments is not enough to cover the extra living expenses for families in remote communities. Mr. Speaker, we could make the Northwest Territories Child Benefit better if we factored in the different costs of living for the different communities. We already do this for government employees, why not for the Northwest Territories Child Benefit? Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Evaloarjuk on September 18th, regarding docking facilities in Hall Beach.

On Friday, September 18, 1998, I took as notice a question from the Member for Amittuq about the Department of Transportation's plan for a docking facility at Hall Beach. Under the Community Wharves Program, the department has, at this time, no plans for either the design or construction of any marine projects at the community of Hall Beach.

If the Member believes docking facilities are needed at Hall Beach that the Community Wharves Program should address, the best way to get a new project started would be for the community to make its requirements known to the department. Once the department has a request or proposal for a wharf or breakwater, it can schedule it into the capital planning process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize a resident of Hay River, my brother-in-law, Paul Harrington, and President of the South Slave Metis. Thank you.

--Applause