Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Love is in the House today.
---Laughter
I’ll continue mine with love for Highway No. 7. The government is sending clear messages that the Northwest Territories is open for development like never before. The mineral development, the Economic Opportunities Strategy, NWT Days in Ottawa and increased funding for tourism all show Canada and the world that the Northwest Territories is the place to invest. Yet, anyone driving north on Highway No. 7 from BC would wonder, do we really mean it.
Highway No. 7 is a gateway to the North. It enters the BC border to Fort Liard and to...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today in my Member’s statement, I spoke about our Health department working with the BC Health ministry and their northern health authority about having Fort Liard residents utilize their services.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, do we have a current arrangement with BC Health or any of its authorities currently? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.
---Carried
No, thank you very much. That clarifies my question.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just in terms of details of travel, there’s an extra $100,000 in other expenses. Can I get clarification of that?
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister is on the right track. Once we get an agreement, I think the travel between Fort Liard and Fort Nelson will certainly take care of itself.
Just once more, will the Minister contact the BC Health ministry and begin these discussions, as well as involve the community of Fort Liard and its residents? Thank you.
As I indicated in my Member’s statement, I think by having an agreement with the BC Health ministry will certainly impact and even lower our health costs in terms of medical travel as well.
Can the Minister investigate what process will it take to having a working agreement with the BC Health ministry as we did in the old Capital Health System with Alberta? Thank you.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to say, for the record, that we do have a great health care system. It is very difficult to deliver quality health care from Fort Liard all the way to Sachs Harbour, but on the whole, people working in the health system are to be commended.
Saying that, there is always room for improvement, and I would like to suggest some changes that would both help out the people of Fort Liard and probably lower the cost of health care and medical travel in my region.
It is one of the goals of our health system to deliver as much care as close to home as possible and I very...
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I just want to say that I’ll be voting in favour of this motion. It certainly shows the seriousness of Members on this side that that old technology is just not working and we should give it serious consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
So it’s in anticipation of planned extra travel in the new fiscal year, then, is it?