Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I rise to talk about transportation for health patients in the riding of Nunakput. For the past number of years, Nunakput residents have experienced a lack of transportation services for patients.

Madam Speaker, a concern was raised by constituents, in particular in a letter to the Minister of Health and Social Services from the Hamlet of Holman, that both elderly and patients in general have to find their own ride to either go to the health centre or report for medical reasons outside of their community. The hamlet operates a handy-van for purposes such as this, but it is outdated and costly.

This, Madam Speaker, causes problems in smaller communities where there are no taxi services. Although there may be taxi services in some communities, it is not a solution because some taxi services are not reliable. As an example, Madam Speaker, Reindeer Point residents in Tuktoyaktuk live about 10 kilometres from the hamlet. The local taxi will not respond to taxi calls from residents of Reindeer Point. Imagine if a resident or patient needs to go to the health centre for medical reasons and cannot find a ride, what can happen to these individuals. This concerns me as well as my constituents.

In closing, Madam Speaker, the elderly and patients in general should have access to transportation services to health centres as well as translation services. How can the Department of Health and Social Services address this concern? Maybe, Madam Speaker, one option is to allow other government departments in the communities to have access to their vehicles. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause