Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to use my Member's statement today to speak to the issue of our capacity as a government to meet the health needs of our residents. One area of issue which has been referred to recently is our ability to effectively convince the federal government of the deficiencies in the areas under which they have a specific obligation to First Nations people in the Northwest Territories. Another ongoing challenge we are faced with is the practice of the federal government to distribute new funding on a per capita basis which is always detrimental given our small population and the unique challenges of the remote nature of many of our communities. Add to this the ongoing forced growth and expenditures due to health care professional shortages, new technology, pharmaceuticals and the ever-expanding availability of new treatments and procedures in medical science and we have a very pressing challenge to ensure that our people receive health services on par with any other Canadian citizen.
We are also particularly challenged given what the Minister has referred to as northerners' disproportionate penchant for smoking, abusing drugs and alcohol, eating too much and exercising too little, but we must press on. The provision of quality health services for our residents is a top priority of most northerners as it relates to their quality of life. That is why I want to see some serious effort being expended. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't hear another very disappointing report of my constituents being failed by the health care system. We cannot afford to be complacent with this. We have shortages in Hay River that are going to jeopardize the well-being of our citizens and our ability to retain our health care providers. I want to see some decisive and tangible movement on this problem sooner than later. Mr. Speaker, who is in charge? I would characterize the situation in Hay River as approaching crisis and will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on these matters later today in question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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