Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ernie Daniels, First Nation President for First Nation Finance Authority for Canada.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a few people in the gallery, as well: my wife, Betty Lyons, who travelled here with me for this; and my daughter-in-law, Chantelle Lafferty, hiding over there; and a friend of mine, Donna O'Brien. As well, I'd like to recognize Mr. Ernie Daniels, who I haven't seen in years. It's nice to see you again. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize two visitors who are visiting from the Association des colleges et universites de la francophonie canadienne, an organization that works with francophone colleges and universities across Canada. I would also like to recognize my constituent, Ms. Josee Clermont, from the College nordique francophone.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Welcome if we missed anyone in the gallery today. Welcome to the Chamber, and I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to have an audience with us today. Thank you. Oh, sorry, Member for Monfwi.

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not available.] Masi.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Mahsi, Member for Monfwi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 7, reports of standing and special committees. Item 8, returns to oral questions. Item 9, acknowledgements. Item 10, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last of the one flights a day to Inuvik has made it more difficult to book travel. Medical travel is a live issue and we are working to mitigate the impact on medical travelers. We are working with Stanton Clinic to ensure that there is sufficient time to process travel requests to make the specialist appointments in time, checking with airlines to see if travel is available for the required day, and booking a day earlier, if needed.

People are not getting bumped. There are unrealistic expectations that people travelling on medical travel can somehow bump other paying passengers on an over-subscribed flight. I have instructed the Department of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services to make the best efforts to ensure our residents are accommodated and have enough notice to make flights and necessary household arrangements to attend medical appointments outside their home communities.

To our residents, please bear with us as we work to improve medical travel and make it easier on you to meet your medical needs. There will be hiccups along the way, and we ask for your understanding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

It's pretty dire, I guess, in regards to when you're travelling. When we travel down here, since the last two months we've been here, I've been travelling on that 14 times. Every time, you're seeing somebody in the airport actually being physically taken off the flight, being removed. I'm asking the Minister: would she call a meeting, I guess, with all the transportation providers that provide service to this government, to call them in and try to work with them to try to get adequate aircraft and try to get our patients out of our ridings to where they are travelling for their appointments?

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Like I mentioned, medical travel is a live issue, and, again, our department is working to mitigate the impact of medical travellers.

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

I'm going to call out the airlines. I want adequate service provided to our residents of the Beaufort Delta. I guess from outside Yellowknife, the Sahtu, Beaufort Delta, my riding of Nunakput and Aklak Air, also. Today, I had five passengers on standby out of Paulatuk. That's not right, Mr. Speaker. They have to have adequate aircraft to provide the service that they're providing, and people are missing appointments, now. What are we going to do?