Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was not going to wade into this discussion that's been going on in this House by Members about the current predicament we find ourselves in with the specialists in the Northwest Territories but, Mr. Speaker, I feel that it must be said that residents across the Northwest Territories have come to expect a certain level of care. It's taken a long time to get to that level and when it drops, there is much concern raised. But I think we must all, in this arena, think about other communities in the Northwest Territories that do not have the same level as we do in the larger centres, and I must even refer to my community of Inuvik where we have a lot more services than in Tuktoyaktuk or Holman or Sachs Harbour.
Mr. Speaker, with all the information that's going to and fro in this House and outside this House, I think we have to ask ourselves seriously what we're trying to accomplish. Are we trying to ensure that the government keeps its fiscal situation in tact, or are we trying to ensure that we give the best dollar to those potential specialists that would come and work in the Northwest Territories at any cost?
Mr. Speaker, we've already heard that negotiations have broken off. We have heard that the government has laid a certain percentage down to try to ensure that we're competitive across the country. We've heard or been presented information from the doctors' side that they would like to ensure that they are among the best remunerated across the country. But, Mr. Speaker, those discussions are no longer happening. The timing couldn't be better, and in our life, Mr. Speaker, timing is everything. That the break of negotiation happens just when this session gets underway, and resumption could potentially begin three days before we lose the specialists as it has been identified.
But, Mr. Speaker, we have to ask ourselves, has everything possible been done? Well, I think if both parties can't agree, as we found out throughout the world in a democratic society, governments have put into a place a process of arbitration. If parties cannot agree, then go to arbitration. So, Mr. Speaker, I would suggest, as has been suggested, that both parties go to binding arbitration as soon as possible and put the people back first where they belong, not behind closed doors. Thank you.
---Applause