Sorry.

Thanks for that response. I was kind of curious as to what kind of financial analysis was done and presented to Cabinet to help them make a decision, an informed decision. Clearly there was none. Just as a note, I disagree. I believe this program change is occurring on the backs of the seniors as well as those individuals with family members with chronic conditions. You are taking money out of one pocket to put it in another. So since I am not going to get an answer to that first question, I’ll ask my second question.

When the Minister presented the proposed program to Cabinet in 2008, did the...

Thanks for that response. I was kind of curious as to what kind of financial analysis was done and presented to Cabinet to help them make a decision, an informed decision. Clearly there was none. Just as a note, I disagree. I believe this program change is occurring on the backs of the seniors as well as those individuals with family members with chronic conditions. You are taking money out of one pocket to put it in another. So since I am not going to get an answer to that first question, I’ll ask my second question.

When the Minister presented the proposed program to Cabinet in 2008, did the...

There are a lot of people I’d like to recognize in the gallery, but for the sake of time I’ll just focus on three constituents. I’d like to recognize Bob Malloy, Loretta Gamble, and Theresa Crane.

There are a lot of people I’d like to recognize in the gallery, but for the sake of time I’ll just focus on three constituents. I’d like to recognize Bob Malloy, Loretta Gamble, and Theresa Crane.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Health and Social Services and are related to the Member’s statement I made earlier today.

In the last couple of months I have talked to a number of recent mothers who have utilized the midwifery services in Yellowknife. I’ve got to say that every one of them was extremely pleased with both Yellowknife Health and Social Services for putting in the program and the sole midwife who is in Yellowknife providing the services. Her dedication and her expertise are excellent.

The problem I have and that some of them have brought to me is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recently attended an open house for the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority’s midwifery program. The event was well attended and highlighted the value of midwives in the Northwest Territories. There are currently three midwives practising in the Northwest Territories: two in Fort Smith and one here in Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah.

The Midwifery Profession Act, proclaimed in 2005, provides for the licensing, registration and regulation of registered midwives in the Northwest Territories. Midwives have been active intermittently in Yellowknife since 2006...

Thanks to the Minister for that response. This program, midwifery services — hopefully someday we will get them into the communities like Simpson, Norman Wells, Inuvik, Hay River — will actually, I believe, save us a lot of money in the future. I think it’s time for us to actually think outside the box. Let’s find ways to get this $100,000 that we need to create this second position and then pursue additional positions in the community.

You indicated earlier that you’ll explore all options. Maybe I can get a commitment from the Minister at this time to look into the department itself. How many...

Thanks to the Minister for that response. If I remember correctly, once upon a time the department had a midwife implementation committee that was recommending, and the department was recommending, four midwife positions in Yellowknife as well as midwife positions in Fort Simpson, Inuvik. There might even have been some in Norman Wells, but I’m not one hundred per cent sure about that.

I believe, originally, they were intended to be funded out of the Territorial Health Access Fund. I know that fund still exists. I also believe that it comes to an end in 2010–2011. Is the funding no longer there...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I’ll be fast. A detailed list of her responsibilities demonstrates a wide range of services provided by midwives and helps us understand how highly women in the community value her care.

At the appropriate time I’ll be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services about midwifery programs in Yellowknife.