Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an area of great concern to many parents and educators in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, the issue I would like to address here today is the lack of a speech language pathologist for Hay River.
Hay River has been without a speech language pathologist since August of 2000. Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress enough that this time period is critical in the formative development of a child. Mr. Speaker, I think everyone in this House would agree with me that our children are our most valuable resource.
Mr. Speaker, prior to 1997, the delivery of speech language services was done through the Stanton Regional Hospital. At that time, the South Slave communities of Hay River, Hay River Dene Reserve, Enterprise, Kakisa, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution and Fort Smith only received a maximum of 30 days per year of service. In 1997, the Hay River Community Health Board initiated a speech language program. This program offered assessment and treatment services to the various South Slave communities. Mr. Speaker, there were a number of positive outcomes as a result of having a speech language pathologist. This program has dramatically improved the social and intellectual development of our children.
Mr. Speaker, the Hay River Community Health Board has determined that one speech language pathologist cannot handle the workload placed on them in servicing so many communities. Mr. Speaker, the normal caseload for a speech language pathologist is 35, and they can only adequately see 75 patients on a consultation level. Mr. Speaker, in the South Slave area, the case load was 191, of which five percent were adults and 95 percent were pre-school and school-aged children.
I submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that the demands placed on the speech language pathologist, coupled with the lack of funding, has led to the demise of the program in the South Slave region.
Mr. Speaker, at the proper time I will have further questions for the Minister responsible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause