Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the reason I bring the motion forward is realizing that we also have to have an integrated system of care throughout the Northwest Territories and not continue to take these services out of our smaller communities and provide them elsewhere.

Mr. Speaker, for too long we have taken our children out of our communities and basically sent them somewhere else to be either educated or cared for through programs and services of the government-of-the-day that meant well. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the consequences of those decisions are long lasting in regard to the social, economic and emotional effects on individuals, communities and families.

Mr. Speaker, in this case, in regard to elder care at the Joe Greenland Centre, and more importantly, the long-term care component, which really deals with the fabric of elder day care and improving the quality of elders and seniors in communities and in these types of facilities.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories, back in the early ‘90s, had a plan in place to establish long-term care facilities in most regions in the Northwest Territories. They had a facility in Deline, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Aklavik and then in early 2000 a facility was built in Tuktoyaktuk to provide these types of care facilities so that we can accommodate the elders in our home communities, but more importantly, the ones that are the most vulnerable in regard to the physical and mental disabilities that they acquire as they age.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important that we have to find a unique way to retain these elders as long as we can in our home communities providing the essential services that they need, regardless if it’s keeping them active, keeping them fed by way of Meals on Wheels, providing the community home supports that they require and the supports that they need in regard to day-to-day activities that are required to ensure that the services are there.

Mr. Speaker, in my riding alone, as I mentioned, I have 120 elders over the age of 70. Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we’ve seen in our aging population is the demographics have shown right across Canada and here in the Northwest Territories that where we’re looking at some 10 to 15 percent today, in the next 10 to 15 years that will jump to 20 to 25 percent of the demographics of our aging population. Again, this problem is not unique just to the constituents I represent but the whole Northwest Territories. I believe that we have to find a way to basically not continue to cut programs and services.

Again, the whole area of communication in this case was definitely lacking in regard to how this was handled, regardless if it’s dealing with the community affected, the affected MLAs, and more importantly, the communities that provide this essential service in the different regions in the Northwest Territories.

Again, with that, I would like to continue to require the support for the motion, but more importantly, have the elders in our communities and in the Mackenzie Delta live out their days in comfort and not have to continue to be removed from their home communities and communities to provide the essential service that they require. Thank you.