Who can blame them? I'd do it. I'd do it. But I think the message we want to send here is to the northern nurses, the long-term nurses, the ones who are here all the time. We want to look after them the same as the agency nurses who are coming up. That's our intent here today, Mr. Speaker.
To me, we are sending a message and we are trying to show some support for the long-term northerners, the local girls who are going to get training to become nurses, and all health care professionals. We are trying to send them a message that we will look after you the same whether you decide to stay here. You will be compensated the same as health care professionals that are coming up from down south. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that this is the message we are trying to send. If the government can listen to the advice we give them, we would much appreciate it, not only for ourselves, but for a lot of people. I have known nurses who have been up here for 25 years. They are from Ontario and Saskatchewan. They come up and they've been here for 25 years. This is their home now and they want to make it their home. It's tough on a lot of health care professionals to be working side by side with someone who has their way paid up, their rent paid, everything taken care of and the folks who are here permanently are looking at mortgage and all their own expenses. They don't mind doing that. They aren't complaining about that, but they do want to be compensated equally. So that's our intent here today. I am more than happy to support this motion and I do appreciate the Member bringing it forward. Thank you.
---Applause