I’ll be coming back to the Auditor General report here later on in this budget process.

My next question has to do with medical equipment. In the line entry here we have as medical equipment under $50,000. There seems to be a slight increase. However, it is well known that we have, especially at the territorial hospital, a number of large pieces of equipment that are nearing their lifecycles. A lot of this major equipment was purchases in the late ‘90s, early 2000’s. Some of this equipment is now entering 12 years of lifecycle and needs to be looked at. I’m speaking specifically to things like the CT scan. I’m thinking about things like the large mammography units that were purchased back then.

I don’t see much in the budget here to deal with those large ticket items above that $50,000 mark. Does the department have a plan of action? Is there an approved capital list of these products, and if so, can they share some of those top line items that could be plaguing the people of the Northwest Territories in either replacing or enhancing the current delivery of health care services across the Northwest Territories? Thank you.