Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I remember when the Member for North Slave raised this issue of accommodation for people who are accompanying family members with illnesses who are staying at the hospital in Yellowknife. I remember when he raised this last July. I had suggested that we might check if there were any vacant housing units or any kind of infrastructure which was not already in use here in Yellowknife. I think most Members are aware that there is actually a housing shortage here in Yellowknife at the present time, certainly in the public housing side. There was nothing that came of that particular inquiry.
However, Mr. Speaker, the Member is right. We do have people who come to Yellowknife from communities who do not fall within our medical escort travel policy and who are not reimbursed through any other insurance for accommodations while they are here.
I could undertake to look at the policy we currently have in place for our boarding homes that we have here in Yellowknife, look at the utilization of them and what some of the cost implications might be of expanding the availability of those facilities. Currently, they are primarily used for patients and a medical escort. We could undertake to determine whether or not it is possible to expand on that policy. Thank you.