Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to read a letter I received this week from a constituent.
As a concerned resident of Yellowknife, I am urging immediate action on the critical issues facing the NWT's health system. Our chronic staffing shortages and overreliance on temporary physicians and nurses are compromising patient care and alienating our permanent staff. Our health care workers are enduring burnout from extended hours and high stress environments leading to distressing turnover and unsafe patient care.
The current impasse in collective bargaining reflects the government's neglect in addressing these concerns. Privatizing the delivery of care via agency staffing while the stop gap undermines care consistency, reduces accountability in health care, threatens cultural safety, and incurs exorbitant costs. The NWT must offer competitive wages and conditions to attract and retain dedicated health care professionals.
I propose the Legislative Assembly immediately consider improved working conditions such as legislate safe nurse-to-patient ratios following British Columbia's model, acknowledge and accommodate health care's unique roles with a distinct collective agreement for health care workers, also retention strategies such as offer housing allowances, child care, flexible schedules, and bonuses for permanent health care workers who make long-term commitments, enhanced access to care, such as increasing staffing and beds at Stanton Territorial Hospital, and introducing a walk-in urgent care service for at least four hours daily.
Investing in health care workers translates to superior care and safety for our residents. I implore you to take decisive steps in safeguarding our territory's health system.
I will have questions for both the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.
