Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As the seconder of this motion I am a strong supporter of providing as many services as we can to our small and remote communities. This is one of the needs that is consistent in my riding.

The motion speaks for our support of Fort McPherson. At the same time, I still believe it’s a strategy that our government has to work towards for all our smaller communities.

Our people have asked me time and time again for long-term care facilities in their communities and I believe that our strategy has to work towards that. I know that we certainly do have it in our regional centres. I know that it doesn’t have to be cost prohibitive. They’re not asking for major facilities. At the same time it would still be the centre of the community where we have our elders, the keepers of our traditional knowledge who wouldn’t have to leave their smaller communities for the larger centres. I believe it has lots of value for our communities.

With that, I’d just like to say I will certainly, as the seconder, be a strong proponent of this motion.