Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to speak on an issue that has been brought to my attention by a few constituents in Inuvik. That, Mr. Speaker, is the fact that some of the departments of the GNWT are asking for medical prognosis when employees are given medical leave by a doctor. To me, Mr. Speaker, that violates the doctor/patient confidentiality. If the doctor gives the employee a leave form saying that they can't be at work for a week, that's between the employee and the doctor. I don't think it has anything to do with the department. I don't think the department has a right to ask for a prognosis of the employee. If I'm given a week off, Mr. Speaker, and the doctor gives me a note, it should be between me and the doctor and I shouldn't have to have a prognosis saying my back is out and I'm leaning a little bit to the left.
---Laughter
I mean it's nobody's business but mine and the doctor's.
So, Mr. Speaker, I think there are a lot of questions that need to be asked on this particular issue and I intend to ask them to the Minister of Human Resources today, because I feel like it is a violation of the employee's privileges, their rights, and I think it questions the integrity of the doctors. We have a hard enough time trying to recruit doctors and keep them in the Northwest Territories and we put something like this on them, I think it's just more stress and more pressure on them. They shouldn't have to have their opinion questioned. They shouldn't have to provide a prognosis because it's really nobody's business but their's and the patient's. I have some serious concerns and some questions on that issue, Mr. Speaker, and I do intend to ask the Minister of the Human Resources department at the appropriate time. Thank you.
---Applause