(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to voice my support for the community of Pond Inlet and their education council request. With local support from their hamlet council, the new school that will be built has a gymnasium which was designed inadequately. For clarification, the school in Pangnirtung is the same design as the one in Pond Inlet, but the gymnasium is larger. We are all aware of the ongoing cost of inflation each year. If there is a delay in renovating this building, it will eventually cost all that much more in the future.

Another example is the school in Cape Dorset which is adequate, but this is not the case in the higher Arctic communities. If we had adequate facilities for recreation in Pond Inlet, people from other communities would be more apt to visit and use the building. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that I am not against the communities in the Baffin region, namely Pangnirtung and Cape Dorset, but I am voicing concerns expressed by my constituents.

At the appropriate time, I will be raising questions to the Minister responsible regarding the school in Pond Inlet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ng responded that for Nunakput there is a territorial-wide issue. Would the Minister of Health be able to tell us whether there is going to be more training for nurses in the north from the communities? If there is no training of northerners, what happens? (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there a policy in place indicating how many nurses there should be in a community according to their population as this is very important to me and what the policy is? For instance, if there are 500 people in a community, how many nurses can they have? Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is a follow-up to Mr. Steen's questions. My question is directed to the Minister of Health. It is concerning the two communities I represent, Igloolik and Pond Inlet. These two communities have the same concerns and their population is about the same with over 1000 people. They usually have two nurses on staff and have a very heavy workload. They work the majority of the time where there is usually only one or two nurses on staff. I wonder if the Minister can tell me when these communities can expect to get more nurses? Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 1975 and 1979, I used to live in the Keewatin area in Coral Harbour. I would like to recognize the mayor of Coral Harbour visiting our Legislative Assembly. Thank you. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to make a statement regarding heavy workload experienced by the two nurses in Igloolik. There are only two nurses in Igloolik, and within the past 21 days, they have seen 435 patients. There was one particular person who has had a major surgery and had to be visited by the nurses while he is at home recovering. This patient just had heart surgery. During question period, I will be asking the Minister of Health regarding this situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends).

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his response. An addition to my question, I think we are all aware that we are sea people. We are close to the ocean and the weather greatly affects the sea. In the old days we used the canoes, but we are slowly going away from that and we are moving toward newer boats that are heavier and so that is why it is urgent that these people have an adequate facility. I think the Minister is aware of that, is he? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday further to my Member's statement, I gave notice that I would be bringing forth some questions. My question will be directed to the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, if I am mistaken, please correct me. I will have two questions which state that... you know we can only learn from our mistakes so I will do that. So, my question is this. My riding consisting of Hall Beach and Pond Inlet both does not have adequate docking facilities and I have been informed that these projects have been delayed. Perhaps the Minister could tell me why the delay has occurred or maybe he could inform me as to when the construction of these projects will take place? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today out of concern regarding my visit to Pond Inlet and the issues I wish to bring to your attention. These problems still have not been resolved;

First of all, the school and gymnasium that was planned for the community was designed to be too small, and the foundation for the building remains very muddy. The marina/dock that was to be built still has not gone through. More and more people are buying their own boats and this facility is required for safety purposes, as Pond Inlet has no safe harbour. The travel routes by air also remain the same. In order to travel between Hall Beach, Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay, they still have to stop over in Iqaluit.

Also, they need a nursing station, which they were told they would get. To date, they have never heard anything more. They have had only two nurses all this time even though they should have five according to ratio and population numbers. There should also be nursing training provided for Inuit but this has also been discontinued.

Mr. Speaker, these issues I speak of will be brought forward in question period at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

--Applause