Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, staffing shortages in Yellowknife often make headlines, but the strain is even greater in the smaller, remote communities. A national shortage of healthcare professionals compounded by distance, limited housing, leaves many healthcare centres and health cabins understaffed and residents waiting. Earlier this month, the Minister of health and the public administrator for the health authority released a work plan centered on access, sustainability, governance, and streamline the administration, all viewed through a small community lens.

Planning is essential. That plan now guides the next steps of our health system as they work to make major improvements before the end of this Assembly. My preference is sooner, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to hear that work is underway by both the department of health and health authority to improve access to care in our small communities. We hear on the news about staffing complaints in the capital, and I don't want to downplay those concerns, but some of our small communities don't even have access to the health community health nurse every day. In some of our smallest communities, health and social services staff only visit the community on a rotational basis, and the frequency of those visits is often impacted by staffing levels in the rest of the region.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister and the new public health administrator have shared their work plan to make improvements that aims to address access to care in small communities. Part of that plan is intended to address recruitment and retention across the territory, and we know that when our small communities are adequately staffed, pressure eases on the regional centres and on the territorial hospital, which benefits the entire system. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing the Minister's plan unfold. I look forward to seeing improvements in our small communities. I understand there are complex challenges and there is no quick fix, but I believe the Minister's focus on access to care and services in small communities is the right one, and I'm very hopeful that in addressing this, we'll build a better, stronger healthcare system for all NWT residents. Mahsi.