Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a matter that is critical to the citizens of Hay River. Mr. Speaker, we have a population of approximately 3,800 people, with a regional hospital but not one permanent doctor. We have had over the last eight months or so a number of doctors providing service to Hay River on a locum basis. Mr. Speaker, I feel I am on the campaign trail again saying we need to do something about our health care system.
Here we are a year later, and we are actually in worse shape than we were back then. Mr. Speaker, the fact that doctors are coming from the South to provide locum service is a band-aid solution, a quick fix to a desperate situation. This may be all right for someone coming to see a doctor for a minor complaint, but I submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that locum services are not all right for our seniors, our disabled, or persons with chronic diseases that need to be monitored closely. It is critical that a treating physician be acutely aware of their medical history. This cannot be done with doctors who come to town on a three-week stint.
Mr. Speaker, I know how frustrating it can be as I have experienced first-hand how hard it is to even get a medical appointment. It is pretty bad to live in a place like Hay River and be told that you have to go to Yellowknife or High Level to get a medical. Mr. Speaker, I find this situation deplorable. Women in Hay River who are pregnant have to go to Yellowknife in order to give birth to their children, as Hay River is not able to provide this very necessary service to its residents.
Mr. Speaker, for the months of August, September and October 2000, there were 17 Hay River mothers who had to give birth to their children in Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, it is very important for the residents of Hay River, many of whom were born and raised there, that the birth certificate of their children read Hay River and not Yellowknife. This, Mr. Speaker, has very negative ramifications. Not only is it very expensive for families involved, it creates many hardships. Mr. Speaker, women have to leave home, many times leaving other children and their husbands behind for periods of up to three weeks or more. This, Mr. Speaker, is unacceptable and I will have questions for the Minister later. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.