Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today to a concern expressed to the Minister of Health and Social Services last month by several of my constituents. At least two families in my riding have recently used the services of Yellowknife’s one and only midwife. While they were very pleased with both the birthing options available to them and the services provided by the midwife, they are extremely concerned for the long-term survival and sustainability of this program in this the NWT’s largest community.

In October 2005 the GNWT provided funds to Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority to begin midwifery services in Yellowknife. When announcing the new program in 2005 the Health Minister promised funding to expand the program from one to two midwives. Four years later the program still operates with just one midwife and it has created a lack of access to midwifery services in this community.

In just the last year, 25 women were refused service due to the workload constraints of the solitary Yellowknife midwife. Due to the nature of midwifery work, a midwife program must provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week on-call services for their clients. It’s unreasonable to think that such a program can operate with only one staff member and not cause staff burn out. In Fort Smith the midwifery program has been a successful operation for some time now, but in contrast to the Yellowknife program Fort Smith has two midwives, not one.

The Department of Health and Social Services must recognize that the Yellowknife midwifery program needs more staff in order to keep operating. The NWT program is highly regarded by other medical personnel, by the local Health and Social Services authorities and by the clients who use it. The NWT is currently at the forefront of midwife services in Canada. Is this government prepared to take steps to keep us there?