Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is the number one issue for Canadians and for the NWT, along with the rest of Canada. Talk to constituents, read the paper, look at the help wanted ads, health care is the number one topic and concern of perhaps everyone but the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Whether the Minister realizes it or not, the foundation of the NWT health care system is approaching a crisis. The Minister can reorganize the department and tinker with the board structure, but the foundation of the health care system, the doctors, nurses and allied health care professionals, may not be there to operate it.

The territorial government funds 60 medical physicians. Fifty-one are now staffed, Mr. Speaker. The NWT Medical Association advocates that there should be as many as 83 positions staffed in the NWT. That is 32 more than we have now. Whether we need 73 or 83, the point is that we are not even close to the number of our fully funded positions.

Mr. Speaker, recruitment and retention plans are not cutting it. Can the Minister substantiate that the medical system, whether it is here or in Tuktoyaktuk or Fort Smith, has the health care professionals that should be in place? What additional costs are we facing by not adequately managing the basics of our health care system? The Minister is quoted as saying that we rank up there fully well in terms of benefits and salary, but why is the intensive care unit at the Stanton Regional Hospital closing? Why are waiting times to see general practitioners increasing? Why does it take so long to see other health care specialists?

Many existing professionals are being called upon to do unreasonable overtime. There are limits in the number of hours that truck drivers or pilots can work. Is there a limit on the hours we ask our health care employees to work and still provide competent service?

Doctors are telling us that we are not going to attract new recruits or even MDs on even a temporary basis. While we do not have to be at the top end of the salary and remuneration scale, Mr. Speaker, we do have to look at where we sit relative to all the jurisdictions.

The Minister needs to focus efforts on immediately resolving the situation with doctors, nurses, and allied care professionals. Unless there is prompt action, the Minister can count on continuing questions concerning health care in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause