Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because families in Yellowknife are still having trouble getting a family doctor and even simply seeing a doctor.

Mr. Speaker, I believe, a few years ago, the change from switching family doctors to go from fee-for-service to salary has caused a serious gap in service delivery. Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, we had 14 doctors seeing approximately 40 patients a day, but today we have approximately 20 doctors a day seeing 20 patients a day. That is 80 visits a day short, Mr. Speaker, that our constituents and our families are missing out on an opportunity to see a doctor.

Mr. Speaker, how many doctors do we need to make up those levels that we were seeing a few years ago? Mr. Speaker, we would need 35 doctors to see all the patients who needed to be seen at 2000 levels.

Mr. Speaker, there are also other problems at this time that need to be pointed out, problems such as one visit with one issue. Mr. Speaker, in a 15-minute allotment of time to see a doctor, you are allowed to see them on one issue. So if you are there for five minutes, you aren’t allowed to say, what about this? The doctor will say make another appointment.

Mr. Speaker, there are no incentives for the doctors to deal with more than one issue. There is no incentive to see these patients and make sure they get the health care that they need. I think switching them to salary has taken a step backwards in our service delivery, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have even heard rumours that the doctors now want to see 16 patients a day, not 20. I want to make sure that that is not the case because, at 16, we are going to need a lot more doctors to deliver the same services 14 doctors delivered a few years ago.

Mr. Speaker, the question would be, how many doctors will be enough. Later today, I will be asking the Minister responsible, and I hope we will get some clear answers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause