One long-standing issue facing the community of Wrigley has been the absence of RCMP officers and nurses who live in the community and provide regular daily services. After years of pushing the government to provide these services, the community has succeeded in
acquiring an RCMP station from the Minister of Justice. Community residents continue to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services to provide primary health care services to the community.
Wrigley has been without resident nursing services for many years. Community residents deserve some reassurance that they can access primary health care services in their community.
At the beginning of this Assembly we identified a commitment to help foster vibrant and healthy communities and their individuals. How can we possibly meet that goal if our smallest communities are denied reasonable access to primary health care services?
Small NWT communities like Wrigley have a higher percentage of elders than other communities. These people have chosen to live in their community for their entire lives. They deserve a community-based health care service.
The Minister knows that elders often approach me with their concerns about health care. Elders do not want to travel to Fort Simpson and wait in a line at the airport or at the regional health centre. They don’t want sporadic visits of non-resident health care providers. When elders come and talk to me about these problems, they are in pain and discomfort and I get frustrated at the current situation of primary health care services. Health care is the highest priority of this government. That priority needs to be reflected at the front line of the smallest communities. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.