Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Remaining silent on the issue of negotiations with healthcare specialists has not been easy. Now that we have the procedural problem we ran into behind us, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today on behalf of my constituents on this issue which impacts not just the people of Yellowknife, but all of the citizens of the NWT and of the Kitikmeot region, Mr. Speaker. No matter how big or how small our interest is or concern is in this issue, we all have an opinion on the present medical specialist contract and healthcare situation.
Mr. Speaker, I am not involved in the negotiations. I don't have all the facts concerning all sides. I will not judge or get into a finger pointing exercise in this Assembly about who I think might be right or might be wrong. That, Mr. Speaker, is the job of the negotiators to weigh all sides of the deal. Really, the only issue that should be before this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, is why aren't those parties negotiating today.
I have read the press releases, the letters and I have the e-mails. I have the briefings. I have talked with medical practitioners and constituents, not only about this situation, but about the heath care system as a whole. It is the system as a whole which we must be working to maintain. From my constituents I have received a lot of thoughtful and urgent and sometimes conflicting opinions. But there are two consistent and fundamental points which come through. Mr. Speaker, healthcare services is an integrated system and the whole system must be maintained. All the parts need to work together.
Both sides need to be communicating and must immediately get back to the negotiating table. It is untenable, it is unacceptable and deeply disappointing that the negotiations are not proceeding at this time. Both sides must know that they can't wait until the 11th hour for an agreement. My message is to the doctors and this government to direct their negotiators to get back to the table now and find a solution acceptable to both parties. There won't be any winners if an agreement is not reached quickly. The consequences of a stalemate, if it is not broken, will be enormously costly to us in dollars and in human terms. We have 20 days, Mr. Speaker. A lot can be done if the will is there. Thank you.
---Applause