Mr. Speaker, once again I am sounding the alarm about serious and growing systemic failures in our healthcare system that are now forcing Northerners to leave their home communities in order to access medically required care.

CBC North recently reported on a case in Yellowknife involving Lauren Seabrook, a Range Lake constituent, a health care professional, and an occupational therapist who has dedicated her career to supporting children with complex needs. Lauren was later confronted with her own rare and serious medical condition requiring ongoing specialized treatment, including tube feeding and coordinated clinical support over an extended period of care. Despite her professional understanding of the system, she was left without adequate local supports whatsoever. Instead of receiving coordinated system-led care, she was forced into managing a fragmented system of her own, making repeated daily calls simply to arrange basic and essential services, coordinate providers, and maintain continuity of treatment.

Mr. Speaker, this is not a functioning care model. It is a transfer of clinical responsibility onto patients who are already in crisis.

Medical professionals involved in Lauren's care, described in the CBC North report, confirmed that the Northwest Territories does not currently have the programs required to provide her ongoing levels of support due to gaps in interjurisdictional arrangements including access to Alberta's home nutrition support program. She was advised the only safe option was to relocate to Alberta in order to continue treatment.

Mr. Speaker, this is not an isolated administrative oversight. It reflects a broader structural issue - insufficient case management capacity, fragmented service delivery across systems, and health agreements that do not adequately support Northerners with complex or chronic conditions requiring long-term coordination and continuity of care. When even healthcare professionals cannot navigate the system they work in, we must recognize the seriousness of this failure. We are also hearing increasing amounts from residents who describe being left alone without adequate support during vulnerable medical moments further underscoring the lack of coordinated navigation and patient-centered care.

Mr. Speaker, no one should have to choose between their health and their home. Period. I urge the Minister of Health and Social Services to act immediately to strengthen case management supports and apologize to my constituent for the fact that she has to leave her home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.