Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a constituent reached out to me recently to share their concern and disappointment at the lack of midwifery services in Yellowknife. She found out she was pregnant at the end of January and contacted me to share her experience so far. What should be an exciting time for her has been overshadowed by concern and anxiety given the state of health care in the capital. She's been on the waiting list for a family doctor for over four years now and does not currently have one or assignment to an integrated care team. The standard for prenatal care is to have your pregnancy confirmed by a blood test and be seen in the first trimester, anywhere from 8 to 11 weeks. She never had that blood test and did not see a doctor until she was already at 11 weeks. During her first trimester, she was overwhelmed by anxiety as she felt she had nowhere to go to ask questions. Attempting to get a same-day appointment was next to impossible, and she felt dismissed when she spoke to a nurse via 8-1-1. Most of the information she has gotten about prenatal care has come from apps, pregnancy books, and speaking with friends. Mr. Speaker, the internet can be a good place for some health information but can also be a dangerous source of misinformation and needs to be balanced with professional advice.

Mr. Speaker, my constituent has a friend in Alberta who is also pregnant where midwives are offered and covered by provincial health care, and their experiences could not be more different. Her friend has access to a midwife whom she can text 24/7 for advice, and she feels strongly supported. My constituent can't help but wonder if she should be considering moving somewhere that she knows this kind of support is available.

Mr. Speaker, I don't want residents to be forced to consider this kind of choice. If the government wants people to feel confident in their choice to make this territory their home and start families here, they need to feel supported by and confident in our healthcare system. Midwifery services are a critical component of primary care. The need for this service is not going away, nor is the demand for it, which is why it keeps coming up in the House again and again and will continue to until we have established a program which offers access to midwifery in all of our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.