Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, recently a request for proposals appeared in the newspaper and it was for travel agency services. It would appear that travel agency services are now provided out of Stanton Regional Hospital for the former Mackenzie region including Yellowknife and Hay River. Mr. Speaker, I have written to the Minister and I have registered my concern about this. In the past, the way the system was worked out, we have two travel agents in Hay River, two travel agencies, and we also have a medical travel position. In the past what would happen is the doctor would make a referral, the patient would get their medical travel authorization from that person, take it down to the local travel agent, get their tickets and get an itinerary, and so on.
Now this is all being done out of Yellowknife, so I have a number of concerns about this. For one thing, it takes much needed business away from the travel agents in Hay River, also for people like senior citizens it is very inconvenient. They are not provided with an itinerary and they do not have the contact with the local travel agent as a convenience associated with this service, so my question is to the Minister. I would like to know what the purpose is behind amalgamating these travel agency services in Yellowknife? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.