Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair...(English not provided)

Mr. Chair, I just highlighted the areas of concerns and issues that I have addressed pertaining to the statements that were made here, and opening remarks. The same with Mr. Yakeleya's earlier statement, ditto, plus we've made many, many statements in this House pertaining to Health and Social Services and other departments as well, but specifically to Health and Social Services. They hear from us because we speak for the people of the North and also the people we represent in the smaller communities. We see, we hear and we witness what actually happens at the ground level. We share that with the Minister and his department, hoping that it will be a part of their business planning and budget process.

We discuss important issues that are badly needed in the communities. We, as MLAs sitting here across the table, raise all these issues and, Mr. Chair, slowly we're starting to see results. The departments and the Ministers are taking into consideration what's important in the North and they are including some pre-budget consultation issues and concerns, considering that into their business planning cycle and the budget that we're faced with today. It's great to see that.

There are some areas like my colleagues have mentioned long-term care facilities at the regional level in the communities. We're lacking that. Community up-to-date service vehicles has been raised on several occasions; up-to-date seniors' homes. The rehab team that's been outlining the report is great to see, and we're certainly hoping to see more of that and take that into consideration when it comes to the business plan and also the final budget cycle.

Mr. Chair, I'd just like to highlight some key areas. The $5.9 million for the recruitment, retention and training initiative system-wide. Behchoko, you've heard on the news that we're lacking nurses now. We're closing our doors; we're on a time limit. We're only seeing patients when they're critically ill; emergency status only. We're at a critical stage now. Across the Territories, we know for a fact, and across Canada, there's a shortage of nurses, but we must do more and that's why I appreciate that $5.9 million to do even more with that process.

Mr. Chair, the next item on the list I have is the social worker profession. The committee notes the Social Work Program will be delivered at the Yellowknife Campus this year. It's great to see that on the books again. A few years back, the program was delivered but, according to this statement, there's a lack of interest. Maybe in some areas, some regions, there's a lack of interest, but it's great to see that back in the books again. I think we need to see this program and also the profession similar to what we see as the nursing students and nursing profession where we provide all kinds of incentives to retain, to recruit and hang onto those nurses in the communities. At the same time, we must do that also to the social workers in the community and also the upcoming students, because they're in a similar situation due to stress, high demand on their part. They're at a critical level as well in their profession. So I'm glad to see that the department is working with social workers and the Department of Human Resources to come up with a strategy. I'm happy to see that, as well.

Mr. Chair, the last note I'd like to point out is the rehab team. We've been after the department with the previous Minister as well, and the new Minister, about this whole issue of having specialists in our regions, in our schools, to deal with those special needs students, students that have problems in the community in schools. It takes some learning out of the teachers on a daily basis, because they need to focus on those special needs students, but at the same time they have 35 students in their class. So we asked for one-on-one counselling and the department has been listening to us, and now there's a rehab team. There's a schedule that they're supposed to go out to my region, the Sahtu and Deh Cho regions. I'm looking forward to that and I'd like to see more of that in our region as well, and other regions.

Mr. Chair, those are just the comments that I have of the report and opening remarks of the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mahsi.