Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to an area of health care delivery that affects a great number of my constituents and indeed a large number of women throughout the Northwest Territories. The issue at hand, Mr. Speaker, is the delivery of mammograms within the health care system.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from several constituents lately about the problems they are encountering in having mammograms performed. There are instances, Mr. Speaker where Hay River women have been referred by a doctor for a mammogram in Yellowknife. When they arrive here, there is no technician on duty to perform the mammogram and they are being sent home.

Mr. Speaker, some of these women are without health care coverage and are having to pay the $250 deductible for their airfare to Yellowknife. In addition, they are having to take a day off work without pay, and they are being refused a mammogram once they get to Yellowknife. These women are having a further expense for a return trip to Yellowknife through no fault of their own.

I am appalled, Mr. Speaker. The medical community talks at length about the advantages of early detection and we cannot even get our Hay River women tested to rule out the horrible and often-times deadly disease called breast cancer.

Mr. Speaker, by returning these women to Hay River without a mammogram, it further delays the possible detection of breast cancer, never mind the prolonged emotional roller coaster that these ladies are on.

Mr. Speaker, I have also recently received information from my constituents that the mammogram van will not be travelling to Hay River this year. Last year, there were 175 Hay River women who received mammograms and breast cancer screenings through this program. Now, they are told that the money cannot be raised to bring this badly needed service to Hay River. I am told that the maximum cost for this service would be $15,000.

Mr. Speaker, I would think that surely, this Department of Health and Social Services could find this money somewhere within their budget to accommodate the women of Hay River.

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, we have just recently lost some very fine women to breast cancer in Hay River. Surely my colleagues would agree with me that this government cannot put a price on human life.

Mr. Speaker, if mammograms turn up even one instance of breast cancer and a life is saved, then this is surely worth the relatively small cost involved in mammography. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will have further questions for the Minister responsible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause