Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about the ability of elders in our communities to age in place in their own homes for as long as they are able to do so. Many elders wish to remain in their home communities, in their own homes, as they age. To do so means they require the appropriate health and social supports to live safely and independently. Elders experience higher rates of social isolation, mobility issues, and health conditions that require particular attention as we support their wishes to age in place. Not all elders can rely on family to provide assistance, and we need to think about that in terms of the support we provide.

Mr. Speaker, in case of an elder aging in place at home, one large concern is what happens when there's an emergency and there's no one to reach out to help. In one of my communities, an elder had to call the RCMP to help her to get to the health centre because the nurse at the health centre said she could not leave the health centre. So my constituents have concerns that this is happening, that nurses are not able to leave the health centres to provide care for these elders when they're unable to get to the health centre on their own. Elders are asking who do they call for help in an urgent medical situation in small communities? They are being told the nurses cannot provide care off-site. With the aging population, it is expected that more and more services will be needed for elders in our communities, and we all don't have emergency services such as trained medics or ambulances in some of our small communities.

Mr. Speaker, a change in policy is required that ensures that services elders need are available so they can age safely in their homes which includes health care in urgent situations. With our aging population, this is an issue that needs to be addressed now. I will have questions for the Minister of health later. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.