Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this question is for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. Today I would like to follow up on a statement I made last week about medical services available in the North Slave region. Last week, I explained how people within my region would like better medical facilities in their home communities. Would the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services please advise the House of the status of the Government of the Northwest Territories agreement with DIAND for hospital and physician services for status Indians and Inuit? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to bring forward an issue that has been raised in Snare Lake, which is a part of the North Slave riding. Constituents within this community are concerned with the costs of goods being flown in. The constituency has been comparing costs between the south and the North. You add at least 30 percent for the transportation costs to bring goods up. On top of this, the price of goods going from a large, northern centre to a smaller community are again jacked up.

Mr. Speaker, when there is already little economic activity in small communities, residents cannot afford these extra costs. In Snare Lake, one way to reduce costs is to use the winter road. People can either go and shop in larger communities or have items shipped to them using the winter road. At the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister responsible for Transportation a question on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to ask the Minister will he be looking at changing these regulations in the near future?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister consider input from the students in further evaluation of the regulations? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Jake Ootes.

In the last couple of days, many concerns have been raised about student financial assistance. I would like to bring forward a concern that has been brought to my attention.

I understand students currently attending post-secondary education outside of the community are funded for travel, but only for travel at the start of the year and at the end of the year. However, if a student wants to use this funding at a different time, the student must receive approval from the Minister.

Given there are hundreds of students from the Northwest Territories attending post-secondary education, I would think evaluating student requests to transfer travel entitlement would take a great deal of the department's time, that could probably be spent elsewhere. Would the Minister consider changing this regulation? Thank you.

...on their decision to drop the speed limit of truck traffic on Highway No. 3. I know my constituents can travel without looking in their mirror expecting tractor trailers to overtake them. On that issue, my athletes have to get to the Arctic Winter Games, so I would like to thank the Minister. Today, I would like to acknowledge and congratulate the many fine athletes, coaches, chaperones and support staff within the western Arctic who are heading for Whitehorse with one of our colleagues in March to represent our Territory in the 16th Arctic Winter Games.

In my home community of Rae-Edzo, 14 athletes have been successful in obtaining a spot on Team Northwest Territories. I send my congratulations to Tracy Beaulieu, Glenn Blondin, Colinda Blondin, Tyron Fish, Melvin Lafferty, Jonathan Mackenzie-Zoe, Shane Mackenzie-Zoe, Cody Mantla, Wendy Mantla, Marvin Migwi, Kerry Lee Rabesca, Pamala Richardson, Fred Steinwand and Freddie Tinqui. These athletes have worked hard and earned their place in representing our Territory in events such as volleyball, soccer, wrestling and Dene games.

I would like to acknowledge the time and efforts of two of the coaches who will be attending: Mike Botermans, who is the juvenile men's soccer coach, and Sara Tkaczuk, who is the women's volleyball coach. I would also like to acknowledge the coaches and teams that did not make it to the Arctic Winter Games for all of the hard work they put into their sports. Within the North Slave, I would like to acknowledge the abilities of Bernice Beaverho, Katrina Jeremick'ca, Christina Simpson, and Tephanie Wedawin. They will be representing our Territory on the women's volleyball team.

In closing, I wish these athletes and coaches every success as they head off to the Games. I hope they return with memories they will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on this highway issue and the issue of the Arctic Winter Games. On the highway issue, I would like to compliment the Minister responsible for Transportation and his staff on their decision to reduce the speed limit...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will ask this question in my language. (Translation starts) I would like to ask a question to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services. I realize that the public forum on health has just been discussed, and it seems that she wants everyone to agree with her on the way that it is being established, but we want to establish a medical service in our area. We want to help our people with alcohol, substance abuse, where we can house all that in one building. Is it possible that the Minister can help our region in building a complex in that area? (Translation ends)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to give my Member's statement in my own language.

(Translation starts) Mr. Speaker, today I would like to highlight a concern that constituents throughout the North Slave have brought to my attention. People are very concerned with the medical services available to them at home. While I am sure everyone in this room recognizes the great work done by the Stanton Regional Hospital here in Yellowknife, I am sure many people can also recognize the need for better medical services in their home communities.

In particular, seniors whose health is declining do not wish to leave their families and friends. It is hard for their extended family to make the journey to Yellowknife or Edmonton, especially in the case of a long-term illness. It simply is unaffordable and unrealistic. Therefore, patients miss the care and support that their families and friends can provide.

In the recently released report in the Minister's Forum on Health and Social Services, the panel stated that to help return communities to good health, we need to help them increase control over their lives. Earlier this week, I shared my constituents' overwhelming desire for help with addictions. We want better services in this area and in a number of areas related to health care.

Today, I would like to share with you the big picture of what we hope to achieve in the North Slave. We want to create a more responsive health care system. We want to create a multi-purpose building in Rae which could provide:

• • Services for mentally challenged people;
• • Services for people addicted to substances; and
• • Services for health care.

Ideally, a permanent doctor would be hired and around the clock medical services could be available. This is a big goal and will require time and energy to bring about. It is a worthy goal and one that I am personally committed to working on.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I am looking forward to working with this government to find ways to make health care more relevant to the people it serves. Thank you. (Translation ends)