Mr. Chairman, I wanted to ask the Minister again, I know he's given some explanation to other Members here. It has to do with the front-line workers and the retention of front-line workers in our communities. There is the mental health worker, social worker, a real good nurse in our communities, even doctors in our region in the Sahtu. We are having a real hard time to retain them. It's mainly because of the housing issue. It's a big one and we have a hard time. I think it's been talked about so much that you ask what can we do to keep the nurses and the front-line workers in our communities and we keep saying this is the issue, but we keep getting back the same response from the government or from the health boards. I want to ask the Minister through his discussions with the other Cabinet Ministers, maybe the staff, we have an issue here. Last year we had the same discussion, what can we do to resolve this issue or look at a solution. I know there are other issues that are really sensitive that is going to be attached to this issue. A lot of people are going to be watching. That's a fundamental issue that keeps going back into our region. The mental health worker over Christmas couldn't stay because there were no houses. The mental health worker had to stay in a hotel. I have to see if, through this process here, there is a chance to shed some light to say we could possibly look at some issues to keep our workers in the small communities. Doctors, we need them. We need mental health workers, dentists and nurses. What can we do as the Department of Health?
Norman Yakeleya on Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 14th, 2007. See this statement in context.
Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 17: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 13th, 2007
Page 898
See context to find out what was said next.