Herbert Nakimayak

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to wish the Team NWT athletes participating in the upcoming Arctic Winter Games in Iqaluit, Nunavut and Nuuk, Greenland all the best as they gather to display sportsmanship and fair play during the circumpolar celebration. I'd like to commend the following athletes from Nunakput who are attending Arctic Sports: Gemma Gruben, Agnes Kregnektak, Cassandra Kuptana, Sophie Dufour, Dawson Elias, Jacob Pokiak, Blaine Pingo, Robin Raddy Jr., Mikayla Jacobson, Jewell Kuvik, my nephew Joel Thrasher Jr., and their coach Mr. Charles Komiak. I'd also...

Medical travel escorts is something I hear a lot of concern about from my constituents, especially for elders. Could the Minister explain how decisions are made about escorts and how the process is being improved? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Quanani, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Medical travel is an important part of health care in the NWT, especially in Nunakput where all communities are fly-in communities, so accessing services outside the community requires air travel. This is a necessary but significant expense. Could the Minister tell us what the cost of medical travel is for the NWT, and if you're going to look at ways to reduce that cost? Quanani, Mr. Speaker.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my last point: Midwifery education is important as mothers-to-be are being brought to Inuvik during the most vulnerable time before giving birth, while this should be the very strongest part, as women need support from their families during their last month of pregnancy. This concludes my statement. Quyanainni.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to talk about the healthcare system in Nunakput. The Nunakput region is served by the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority based in Inuvik. Pharmaceutical products are flown into the community health centres from the hospital pharmacy in Inuvik. Medical travel allows people in the Beaufort-Delta to access the same quality and standard of care enjoyed by most Canadians. The services in the communities: each community has a health centre, two nurses, except for Tuktoyaktuk which has a staff of five nurses who typically work a...

The Minister mentioned that the department is working to modernize the medical travel program. Could he please tell us more about the project, and what progress has been made?

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the Pages who are here working at the Ledge this week. Welcome all of you. Welcome to Mitchell Inuktalik who is a grade 8 student in Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok. Also, welcome to Kolton Inuktalik who is a grade 9 student from Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok. Also to their chaperone, Gary Okheena, who may be in the gallery. I do not see him on the other side. Gary has spent time volunteering and was recently at the Northern Dene Games Summit in Inuvik two weekends ago. Thanks, Gary, for volunteering your time towards youth and...

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the state of the economy in the NWT, will the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment promote and make plans to boost the economy in small communities by assisting hunters and trappers in acquiring traps and hunting gear for the upcoming 2016-2017 hunting season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My other question is: the trapping industry is important in my riding of Nunakput. What are some of the trends and issues impacting the industry in the Beaufort-Delta region?