Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I feel sick, I want comfort food. The same is true for our elders and family members who are in the hospital. Unfortunately, most traditional foods that we want when we are sick are not available in our hospitals and long-term care facilities.
In the Yukon, there is a traditional food program that serves wild game to patients that is donated by local hunters. They fill out a checklist ensuring the food has been handled safely before sending it to the local butcher, who also has to complete a checklist before sending the food to the hospital. At the hospital, liaison staff visit all Indigenous patients to help them access the traditional food, run by the First Nations Cultural Programs Coordinator.
In our last sitting the Minister said that the new Stanton Hospital would have the ability to prepare country food, but that it was not quite ready. I hope to hear from the Minister later today, or the Premier, that they are up and running. I also hope that they are looking at how to get country foods into our other health facilities in the territory and also our long-term care facilities. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I will have questions later today.