Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleagues, I know that I stand here with the voice of many residents of the NWT, when I say how pleased and proud we were of Premiers Stephen Kakfwi, Okalik and Fentie of Nunavut and the Yukon, for telling Ottawa and the rest of Canada that the North really does deserve a better break on health funding.
Last week's dramatic story down in Ottawa unfolded like a bad movie. There were three little guys from the boonies, Mr. Speaker, standing up against the big guy from Shawinigan in the showdown over what's right and what's fair. And it could have been a tired old rerun. It's like the story that we've seen played out many times. Remember some of these old clunkers, Mr. Speaker, Infrastructure Investment, or how about Corridors For Canada, and then there was Devolution Delayed? It's the same old story: Ottawa again thwarts the dreams and desires, and leaves the North out in the cold. It could have happened again, but the Premiers stood up and said no. They stood up and said we deserve the same standard of health care that other Canadians deserve. He said that it's not right that 28 of 33 communities in the NWT don't have a doctor. He said we deserve the same standard of health care that other Canadians expect. He said Ottawa's $5 million a year doesn't cut it. He said we've had enough of Ottawa's take-it-or-leave-it attitude. He said per capita funding just doesn't work for the people living north of 60.
So, Mr. Speaker, while we've made our mark on the country with this issue, what we really need to see now are results. I know that our officials are continuing to work in Ottawa to find solutions. I'm impressed that Health Minister Anne McLellan has announced she's going to be here on February 24th to meet with the three territorial Ministers, and even though we might not be hearing much from them, Mr. Speaker, I believe that our northern Members of Parliament and Senators are working on our behalf in Ottawa. We've got their attention, and that is a job well done. Now what we need are results. Thanks, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause