Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some months ago the Minister of Health and Social Services announced the suspension of midwifery services in Yellowknife. This was not welcome news for many women and families who had benefited from the services and those who would like to plan for the future. A recent petition supporting the program had 304 signatures. To me that speaks out loud and clear about how important the services are.
When midwifery services were first offered in Yellowknife, it was part of a plan to expand the Midwifery Program that began in Fort Smith, to reach out to other centres across our territory. Then the plans changed. While the Health department figures out what they need to now do and how to focus on the territorial program, we seem to be going backwards, according to constituents, certainly not forward on this premier health care service that has been offered in the past.
Many months have now passed without people knowing where the program is going, and accordingly this is a concern to many constituents who are trying to plan ahead, because they believe strongly in the Midwifery Program and they want that to be part of their childbearing experience. They have heard, and I truly believe this, that the NWT has one of the best midwifery programs and certain reputations in Canada second to none. As many people know, the birth of this spectacular program came out of the well-known small community called Fort Smith, hand delivered to our Northerners by Leslie Paulette. To her I owe a great compliment.
I worry, as many others do, about what is the plan to re-establish this program here in Yellowknife. It’s a much needed service to help take off the pressure of our health care system while at the same time providing families with real options as they grow their families here in the North.
Later today I will have questions for the Minister of Health to find out how this program is evolving and when, hopefully, we’ll see the re-establishment of midwifery services here in Yellowknife that are in great need.
