Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a pressing need in Hay River. We have a medical clinic which has existed, I don't know how long, but prior to my arriving in Hay River 32 years ago.
A medical clinic is a public building frequented by many residents on any given day. There are two physical problems with getting into our clinic. One is the door configuration. The door is heavy and it has no automatic door opener. Secondly, there is no barrier-free access to our clinic. This is particularly unacceptable, given that most people going to the medical clinic are unwell, injured, recovering from injuries, or elderly.
New buildings built in Hay River are required to have barrier-free access to meet the National Building Code. Buildings leased by government must be barrier-free. Older buildings have been modified, ramps have been built, door openers have been installed. Federal buildings, such as our post office, have been brought up to compliance. Private commercial building owners have invested in compliance. So ironically why would a busy medical clinic not have barrier-free, easy access?
The community has made many accommodations, the Town of Hay River, in the construction of sidewalks, curbs, ramps, and how could a building owned by this government be allowed or want to fail to respond to this issue?
Mr. Speaker, when I asked the Minister yesterday in Committee of the Whole about this issue, the response, I believe, was related to a master plan for facilities and where the Hay River clinic will ultimately be located. But, Mr. Speaker, we need action on this now. The capital plan for a new or renovated hospital is a few years out. This is 2007 and we want a medical clinic that is barrier-free for our residents and we want it now. I understand that there has been some discussion with the Hay River Health Authority about some funding to do this. It's not a huge amount of money, but I just want to stress that this is not an acceptable situation. We want it addressed right away. We cannot wait. It's unthinkable in this day and age that our government can own a building that the people in our community who have to go to a clinic cannot get in the door. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause