Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to express my great disappointment with the
recent decision by the Minister of Health and Social Services to cancel the Midwifery Program in Yellowknife.
Two years ago at this time Members on this side of the House articulated concern for the long-term survival and sustainability of this program in Yellowknife, the NWT’s largest community. In the two years since, many Yellowknife families have been able to use the services of YK’s one and only midwife, but many have not. All reports have been positive. Mothers are very pleased both with the birthing options available to them and the services provided by the midwife.
Since October 2005 Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority has provided midwifery services in Yellowknife. When announcing the new program in 2005, the Health Minister of the day promised funding to expand the program from one to two midwives. Five and a half years later the program still operated with just one midwife. Today, six years after the program was started, there is no midwifery service in Yellowknife. It should be obvious to the Minister from the number of protesters outside the Legislative Assembly today -- about 70, I’m told -- that there is a demand in Yellowknife for midwifery services.
The practice of midwifery is an ancient one and I believe one well suited to the unique geographical conditions of the NWT. We should be expanding this particular program to more communities, not reducing it. We should be considering the practice of traditional midwifery in our smaller communities, something that our ancestors did naturally many years ago.
The department has stated that it will conduct a Midwifery Program review and expansion analysis, although no time frame has been identified to receive the results of that review. I support that action as necessary to properly plan for, develop, and then fund a viable Midwifery Program, but the Yellowknife Midwifery Program should be continued while that review and analysis is undertaken.
In his letter to Members last week, the Minister indicated he wants to receive input from MLAs. Well, here’s mine: find the money and reinstate the Midwifery Program at Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority.