Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Department of Health and Social Services plans to discontinue long-term care service as it currently exists at the Joe Greenland Centre in Aklavik;

AND WHEREAS the Joe Greenland Centre has been an integral and important part of the community, providing essential services to elder for decades;

AND WHEREAS there are currently 76 elders aged 60 and over, half of them over age 70, in Aklavik;

AND WHEREAS keeping elders in the community is critical to the social and cultural fabric of Aklavik, and central to the long-term care is resulting in elders being moved to Inuvik or elsewhere;

AND WHEREAS caring for our elders is one of the most important values in both the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit cultures;

AND WHEREAS 14 full-time and part-time jobs for local people will be lost, accounting for almost 10 percent of the community’s entire working population;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the Department of Health and Social Services reverse its decision and continue to provide long-term care service as it currently exists for elders at Joe Greenland Centre.