Mr. Speaker, I would not suggest that people in Fort Resolution should walk to Hay River for dental services. I do know that a lot of people travel from Fort Resolution to Hay River for many reasons, including medical and dental reasons.
It is important that we find solutions to providing these services, even if it is on an interim basis, to the small communities. I do not think that any time soon some of the smaller communities in the Northwest Territories will have resident physicians or dentists. I do think that it is important that we find ways to contract with professionals for these services and that they come to where the people are as opposed to the people having to go to another centre to receive them.
The Deninoo Community Health and Social Services Board has sent out a tender for dentist services in the community and has received one response from a dentist in Calgary. Like physicians, dentists are also in short supply in the Northwest Territories. I want to assure the Member the health board is seriously working on finding a dentist who will pay regular visits to his community. Thank you.