Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to focus on a topic that has been raised by some of my constituents, that being the delivery of eye care services in the communities. Mr. Speaker, recently, meetings held by the Premiers of the provinces and territories seem to focus primarily on the health issues.
If any one issue achieved consensus, Mr. Speaker, it was that health care represents Canada's largest financial issue. It gives me cause for concern, Mr. Speaker, when I contemplate what our increasing population numbers mean to immeasurable, perhaps even shrinking, health care dollars.
Mr. Speaker, one recent example that was brought to my attention by a senior in my constituency was that of eye care delivery in the communities. Mr. Speaker, in Hay River, for example, people requiring eye examinations are seen by an ophthalmic technician. The ophthalmologist, or eye doctor, only travels to Hay River three to four times per year, and that is to treat certain people who have been referred to him specifically, not for regular eye examinations.
Mr. Speaker, we had a scenario occur in Hay River with a senior citizen who received an eye examination by an ophthalmic technician. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the eye exam performed by the technician failed to detect cataracts in this woman's eyes. The cataracts were only detected when she went south for an examination by an ophthalmologist, at her own expense, I might add.
To further illustrate my point, Mr. Speaker, another constituent, a senior citizen in Hay River, had bifocal glasses fitted by an optical technician in Hay River and they were not fitted properly. The patient returned to the eye clinic because he was having so much difficulty, and was told by the technician that he would just have to get used to them. I do not believe that this is an acceptable response.
Mr. Speaker, this senior also travelled south to have his glasses checked and was told by an ophthalmologist that his glasses were not done correctly, that the prescription given in Hay River was not close enough to the actual prescription, so as to provide proper vision. Mr. Speaker, this senior ended up purchasing, at his own expense, a second pair of bifocals, since he could not see out of the pair provided by the technician in Hay River.
I find this totally unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. It appears that we are provided substandard services because of the fact that we live in communities. In the words of the eye care technician...