Quanami, Mr. Speaker. Despite all the differences and challenges in Nunakput when it always comes to living in small, isolated communities, one of the challenges sticks out from the rest. It’s something most people never even have to think about and that is community-based long-term care.

In Nunakput when loved ones become ill or, even worse, they are dying, they have no other choice but to go to regional centres as far away as Edmonton. Especially our elders, they can spend weeks out alone in a big hospital. This is wrong.

The government must make every attempt to provide adequate long-term care in the

communities so our people do not have to spend their weeks and days alone with no family and no friends because they cannot afford to bring them down.

In the community of Tuktoyaktuk, Kiglavik House is one that has been brought up time and time again for use as a long-term care facility. This building is designed for a fully functional long-term care facility. I ask the government what happened. Why did we let the people of the community down? How can we reboot this plan?

During the community meetings, whether it’s the community corporation or the hamlet council or just talking to people in Kiglavik House when I go visit, this issue is brought up time and time again. It evokes such passion in the people who keep bringing it up.

We do not want to see our elders and loved ones with serious medical conditions so far away from home and all alone. They should be at home with their family and friends. Caring for our elders and their health and well-being must be a pillar of this government.

During my various leadership positions I have always continued to try to improve the life of elders with things such as better living conditions, facilities and health care. I challenge this government to implement real plans for real changes and for the real problems.

I’ll have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time.