Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, recognizing Ms. Lee's passionate interest in health and health issues, I would like to thank her for her qualified praise in her opening comments. In this particular case, I would like to consider denial the big river that flows through Egypt, but I am very clearly aware of the concerns that she's raised and we have taken steps to try to address those, like some of the ones she touched on such as reclassification, new PYs, professional development. I am also of the opinion that there are housing options that can be explored that will not necessarily involve the government getting back into housing. This is a business opportunity that communities can look at with foundations and we already do in some cases. So I think that's something we have to continue to explore.
I have a document here about waiting times, which I would be happy to share with the Members, that is fairly recent. It's waiting times as of December 31, 2002. It was initiated by a request through another MLA, but we would be happy to share that with the Members so they can look at that.
I agree as well, we try to do hopefully with this new influx of services and positions and doctors and nurses, we can make a dent in some of the waiting times. In terms of the $250 co-payment and the gap that is currently in the system, that is an issue that has been recognized. There is a discussion paper with the Social Programs committee that lays out the issues with some potential options of how we could seek to address this. It is an outstanding issue and, as Ms. Lee indicated, there is a specific segment of our population that does not have the benefit of being covered by third-party insurance. We have to, as an Assembly and as a territory, come to grips with what is going to be considered an acceptable minimum level of service for all our residents. We intend to keep moving with that particular discussion paper as well. Thank you.