Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise again to talk about the need for palliative care legislation in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. This is an issue that I have brought up in the House and in committee over the past year-and-a-half. I think that in talking about palliative care, Mr. Speaker, it is about our right to die with dignity. I think this is a fundamental right that we all hold very high, Mr. Speaker.

I think we can see a need, certainly in the Northwest Territories, to develop legislation that will allow us to keep in step with other jurisdictions. In previous questions to the Minister, she agreed that this was certainly something that we needed to get underway.

I know that the department has also looked at the need for long-term care facilities or hospices. I think when you compare the costs of staying in a hospital to the cost of staying in a long-term care facility for someone who is in their last days, Mr. Speaker, it is about three times the cost for a hospital stay.

I know the department had suggested they would look at palliative care and palliative care legislation in their long-term care strategy, and I believe it is called the Continuing Care Strategy. Today in question period, I will have questions for the Minister on the Continuing Care Strategy and whether or not that is ready and whether we have, as we indicated we would, looked at palliative care legislation and palliative care programs and services in other jurisdictions.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I raised a legislative issue yesterday about the need for midwifery legislation. This is another piece of legislation we need in the health care area. There are two things that can delay legislation; a lack of political will or a lack of horses in the Department of Justice to draft the legislation. I will as well be asking the Minister which seems to be the crux of the delay here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause