Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is with regard to the NWT health care review underway by the Minister responsible for Health that is becoming known as the Cuff review.

A number of good issues have been raised about this review in this House already, Mr. Speaker, but the focus of my concerns boils down to two questions: one is whether or not the Minister is clear about what it is that she is trying to get at through this review. Second, whether the Minister and the Cabinet are really prepared to make some tough decisions and choices that will most likely come out of this review.

Mr. Speaker, as a Member of this Legislature, the state of our health care system is by far the most frequently raised issue of my constituents. There is a real problem in the way we currently manage our health care and we are running out of time to deal with it before we see a real decline in the quality and availability of essential health care services to our people.

The thing is that everyone I have talked to, whether they are patients, doctors, nurses, board members, administrators or departmental officials, et cetera, has an insightful opinion and idea about what is wrong with it and how they can fix it. However, I am not sure if all of these are reconcilable.

As have other Members, I have had occasion to talk to Mr. Cuff and I am also aware that Mr. Cuff has spoken to many of these individuals and other stakeholders. I am sure he is beginning to see the scope of the monumental and complex problem he is dealing with. Because this is so important to all of us, I am prepared to give Mr. Cuff and the Minister a chance to come up with a plan of action.

I believe this is one study that should have happened long before now.

My concern, however, is that a good plan of action means nothing without a resolve to do something about it. So many government studies fail to produce any result and people are tired of it.

The reason why this is so, Mr. Speaker, is because inevitably recommendations in these reports need a lot of money, a lot of courage or both. So my point and my advice to the Minister is, be careful about what you ask for because you might get it. When you do get it, be sure to find enough courage or money or both to carry them through. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause