Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In his Member's statement, Mr. Lafferty alluded to the fact that we do have a significantly growing aging population in the Northwest Territories and it is going to be necessary and incumbent upon this government and this department to plan for the eventuality of those people passing on and requiring a significantly higher level of care during that time.
At the present time, in the Dogrib region and the communities which the Member represents, the people who do the home care programs support clients and patients with the provision of palliative care in the home with the support of the nurses from the health centre.
That is the way palliative care in those communities is delivered right now. Certainly, with varying cases and different types of illnesses, it is necessary in some instances to hospitalize people. At the request of the family or the patient, these services for people who are seriously ill are provided in Yellowknife.
As to when we might have increased or enhanced services available at the community level, Mr. Speaker, I could not project a time where that may be in place. Thank you.