Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Specifically to mitigate this, we have this program of transferring expectant mothers and their partners to Alberta to deliver safely in Edmonton or in another Alberta location. So our aim first and foremost is to provide a safe delivery for patients. This is an area in which it's hard to predict the amount of staffing that is required because it's an on-demand service. And I understand from nurses that births bunch up and so you might have a very busy couple of days and then a couple of days without as much traffic.
What we do know is that there are 80 to 90 people who would have given birth at Stanton between December 10th and February 21st and another 25 to 30 from Kitikmeot. So the volume was simply too great for the number of staff that we had and so we have arranged this alternative to go to Edmonton.
But let me say, it is not ideal. I recognize that this is a hardship on families, but I am hoping that they will support our rationale that a safe delivery is the kind of delivery that they want and unfortunately that is not possible here between December 10th and February 21st. Thank you.