Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the problems we've had in the Inuvik region is we have had situations where they have had to pay out of their own pocket to go to the Inuvik Regional Health Centre, in some cases getting medevaced out of the health centre because of not being diagnosed in our communities. They've made the effort on their own to travel to the regional hospital to get this service. As a department, are you willing to compensate those people who have taken it on their own to find that service at the Inuvik Regional Hospital where it's not being provided in our communities?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to commit to a review of every case the Member can bring forward outlining that specific issue and we will give it a thorough review and consideration. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister prior to the adjournment of this House, could he come back to this legislature and explain how the government could cope with the situation we've seen again in the Mackenzie Delta communities where we've had closures of our health centres to strictly emergency services? I would like to ask the Minister who is responsible for health services, what is this government doing to ensure that will not happen again next year?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will commit that prior to the rise of this House, I will get the information requested by the Member to him in writing outlining the steps being taken to address issues he's raised.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The chair was a bit concerned with the beginning of the question, however the second part of it let the Minister deal with that. You were asking an opinion and you shouldn't ask an opinion. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Hay River is a key part of the health and social services system. The health centre there figures prominently in the services that we provide. It's funded to provide dental surgery. It is an issue, as the Member has pointed out in her Member's statement today. There is a backlog there and attempts have been made to hire a GP anesthesiologist. It's not one that we have a solution for as we are in a similar situation in many other areas of service delivery. Is Hay River being used to its full capacity? No.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The chair is having some difficulty in picking up the sound here today. I hope the honourable Member got that answer. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I heard the Minister say he does not have a solution for the problem right now with respect to dental surgery. So in light of that, Mr. Speaker, considering an offer that the office manager of the Hay River Dental Clinic has made, she feels that the situation is dire enough for dental surgery that perhaps the clinic could hire their own nurses and anesthetists in order to take care of the backlog of emergency dental surgeries. Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the government would fund a private clinic to cover the costs for what should be a publicly funded core service. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the deputy minister for the department met in early September in Hay River with the Member for Hay River North, as well as the lady who runs the dental clinic and there was a discussion about the concerns. Out of that discussion, I understand, came a plan for the manager to sit down with the CEO and the health board in Hay River to discuss this issue and they haven't yet had a chance to do that. That meeting I don't think has yet to take place. I have had discussions with Mr. Delorey this morning about the concerns that I passed on to the deputy to make sure the meeting does take place so we can see what kind of common ground there is to address this issue.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is - and I will repeat it again - if the Hay River Dental Clinic thinks that they have access to nurses and...If the health board can't hire these people and they think they can, will the government fund a private clinic to go out and do this work, so that it can be done in a timely manner? I know about the meetings and I know about the problems with recruitment and retention by the Hay River Health Board, but people's teeth are rotting in their mouths as we speak, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, when that meeting was concluded with the deputy, the MLA and the Hay River Dental Clinic, there was a plan, as I understand it, to connect up with the Hay River Health Authority which has funding to deliver the service, which I have yet to meet with the Hay River Dental Clinic to see what can be arranged. I think that's the step we should follow. If there is a plan that does come out of that, I am sure it will be acted on. At this point, I think it's premature for me to stand up and intercede before that meeting has taken place and we have the benefit of the full information from that meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my office also had presence at that meeting. Mr. Miltenberger mentioned Mr. Delorey's office. Of course, we really work very closely together in Hay River and I appreciate that, but I would also appreciate it if he would keep me advised because this is an issue that's also important to my constituents. So will the Minister commit to apprising me to the outcome of that discussion and if it is not something that can be dealt with in a timely manner, we can revisit the offer of the Hay River Dental Clinic? Could the Minister confirm that's correct?

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to apologize to the Member for implying that she's not involved or interested in these particular issues. It was an oversight on my part. I recognize in the House that she's very vigilant in putting forward her constituents' concerns. I will keep her apprised of whatever takes place in this area, as I will the Member for Hay River North. Thank you.