Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When someone mentions ambulance services, most people immediately think of emergency services, an ambulance with its siren blaring, quickly and easily transporting patients to the hospital. That stereotype, though, hides just how complicated providing reliable ambulance services can be, especially in small and remote communities.
Mr. Speaker, in-town services transport patients from their homes, to workplaces, to a hospital, or to a health centre, but there is also the inter-facility services, the common northern practice of transporting patients between health centres, hospitals, and airports via Medevac.
On top of that, there are highway services where patients need to be transported out of town or rescued from the highway. We have already seen the headaches that this causes for the town of Hay River.
As we look forward to the opening of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, Mr. Speaker, the people of Tuktoyaktuk are wondering how the new road will impact emergency services in their community.
Mr. Speaker, right now the Tuktoyaktuk ambulance services are minimal, and only available to deliver Medevac patients from the health centre to the airport. The volunteer fire department is just that, Mr. Speaker, volunteers, and they are not ready to deliver that responsibility.
Although traffic increases are likely to increase demands on all local services, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway is going to open up a lot of opportunities for both communities. If the GNWT can help Tuktoyaktuk bolster its emergency services, all residents will be better prepared to welcome the changes to come. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake
