Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about a large problem that we’re having in Hay River. For several years now, our local hospital does not have any permanent doctors. Hay River is one of the largest communities in the North and we do not have any permanent doctors. The Hay River hospital is a regional centre that helps out a lot of the members in the community as well as the surrounding communities. The local hospital authority has been working with locums for several years now. I know that the hospital authority has been successful in getting a lot of locums to flow through Hay River. There are some times when we don’t have any doctors.

The lack of permanent doctors is lowering the quality of health care in Hay River. Patients are seeing a different doctor every time they attend the hospital or the medical clinic. The lack of permanent doctors is costing this government more money. Costs are higher when individuals have to

be shipped out of the community because there are no doctors to admit them.

I’m asking the territorial government to help the community of Hay River to get permanent doctors.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated yesterday, I look forward to working with my fellow Members in the Legislative Assembly. As the government moves forward, we also need to look back and thank some of the people that have been here before.

It’s been a privilege to replace the Honourable Paul Delorey as the representative for Hay River North. Mr. Delorey was first elected in the 14th Assembly in

1999 and he has served three terms, a total of 12 years, for Hay River. During the 15th and 16th Assembly Mr. Delorey sat as the Speaker of this House. He has represented Hay River in the Northwest Territories very well.

I am using today’s Member’s statement to thank him for his hard work and I wish him well in his future endeavours. I know Mr. Delorey will continue to represent Hay River. He has already committed to helping junior curling in Hay River. I am sure he will be working on his own to-do lists, and I would like, also, to thank his wife and his family for their commitments during his time served.

As a new MLA, I will be using him as a source of information and direction. Good luck, Mr. Delorey, and thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a couple of constituents as well. The acting president and CEO of the Power Corporation, Emanuel DaRosa.

Also a long-term resident of Hay River and part snowbird, Tracy Therrien.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise here for the first time as MLA for Hay River North. As you told me on one of the first times I met you, I’d be nervous the first time. I am a little shaky. I’m nervous because it’s an important position.

I’d like to thank the constituents of Hay River and my family and friends. I look forward to working with you all, over the next four years. I know we have

lots of hills to climb, but hopefully we get over them easily. Thank you for your time today.