Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to read out a fax that’s distributed to all the communities in the Mackenzie Delta. It comes from Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services.
“Re: Reduction of Core Services — Susie Husky Health Centre, Aklavik, NT.
“The Northwest Territories is experiencing a nursing shortage, along with the rest of Canada. This means that at times the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority has to restrict the services we normally provide to our clients. Your community will be affected as follows.
“Essential services only:
“From Friday, August 29, 2008, at 0830 a.m. to Friday, August 29, 2008, at 1700 p.m. there will be no scheduled appointments or clinics.
“A nurse will be available for urgent cases and emergencies at (867) 978-2516, or you may contact the Inuvik Hospital emergency department at (867) 777-8161.
“Tele-Care NWT is a family health and support line which will help you decide what to do, such as how to: take care of yourself (example: health information); call your local nurse or social worker; every day — 24 hours a day — 7 days a week, call 1-888-255-1010.
“We regret the inconvenience and want to assure the community that the BDHSSA has been exploring every possible option to resolve this problem.”
Mr. Speaker, we get this letter distributed to our communities almost every month, but health care is an essential service. We’re still having problems providing services to the communities in the Northwest Territories, especially in the region of the Beaufort-Delta.
This has been going on for quite some time. I think that as a government we have to find unique ways to deal with these challenges that we face. We have to find ways to get around the collective bargaining agreement, to allow for nurses who want to go into the communities, who have admitted they’re willing to go into the communities, but because of union issues we’re having challenges.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services in regard to this urgent matter.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
