Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, often in this House we speak about unequal access and availability of health care services between the large centres like Yellowknife and the small communities, and the unfairness associated with that. I want to make that exact point with respect to the breast health programs in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, much to the credit of the excellent and committed actions on fundraising and awareness campaigns taken by the NWT Breast Cancer Action Group and the incremental steps taken by this government, we now have excellent on-demand breast screening programs for women in Yellowknife, Detah and Ndilo at the Stanton Territorial Hospital. Women in these areas no longer need to get a referral from a doctor to go and get a regular mammogram at Stanton. Once a woman voluntarily enrols into this program, there is a regular follow-up and monitoring for all women. There is also what is called a Patient Navigator Program for those who are diagnosed with breast cancer to help them through the treatment and all the ups and downs the patients and their families have to go through.

Mr. Speaker, we are all very aware that early detection and treatment is critical to any cancer treatment, and breast cancer is no exception. In fact, all women over the age of 30 are encouraged to get a regular mammogram and all women over 40 are strongly encouraged to do so.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this on-demand service is not accessible to women in areas outside of Yellowknife, Detah or Ndilo as easily. In fact, in Inuvik, the program that has been in place since 1999 is still a clinical program, which means that women still need to be referred by a doctor to get a mammogram. There is no separate funding for this either and the Inuvik Health Board has to eat that cost.

For women in Hay River, Fort Resolution and Fort Providence, they go through a service in Hay River, but they get it through Alberta programs. Mr. Speaker, the situation is much worse in communities where there are no mammogram services at all. They must rely on services in Yellowknife and Inuvik. They often go through diagnostic imaging, which is different from the breast health program, which means that they have no monitoring and follow-ups. I would like to ask the Minister. There has been a proposal before the government since last June to make this program available for all of the NWT. I urge the government to approve that so that all women of the Northwest Territories have equal access to mammograms and other breast health services that they deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause