Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about the patients travelling for medical reasons to urban centres. Last week, the interim CEO of the Stanton Territorial Hospital Authority was interviewed by CBC Radio regarding transportation for out-of-town patients.

Mr. Speaker, I understand the Stanton Territorial Hospital Authority has a contract with Vital Abel Boarding Home and a local cab company to transport out-of-town patients. My understanding is that the cab company is utilized at 4:30 p.m. The CEO mentioned that only low-risk patients will be transported by the cab company to the boarding home or hospital after 4:30. There are a number of questions that could arise for the Stanton Territorial Hospital, Mr. Speaker. What constitutes a low-risk patient? How will the cab company know what a low-risk patient is? Are the cab drivers prepared for any emergency? Mr. Speaker, what makes it more frustrating is a low-risk patient is considered as part of the general public. Therefore, they can travel by the local cab company. All patients should be treated as patients, not as the general public. They should be treated with respect and dignity because, after all, they are patients and they are human beings.

Mr. Speaker, another interesting question is whether the boarding home and the cab drivers have the necessary skills to respond to any emergencies to the patient being transported to the boarding home or the medical centre and counter of changing their medical condition.

Mr. Speaker, I don't know if the contract between the Stanton Territorial Hospital Authority and the boarding home and the local cab company require they have at least a standard First Aid certificate. If the contractors don't have this, they should be required to take the standard First Aid course and become certified to react to any emergencies. In closing, Mr. Speaker, a recent tragedy has occurred whereby an out-of-town patient has died. Will it happen again? Maybe, but let's hope not. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause