Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week I was privy to the exchange between Hon. Minister Lee and my colleague Mr. Hawkins on a health care issue in downtown Yellowknife.
It says in Hansard that Ms. Lee, the honourable Minister, has stated that we’re pouring millions and millions into downtown services, that one of the richest parts of the health care service is going to downtown Yellowknife.
I was shocked to hear this, because my region has been looking for a long time at areas that we could fill to bring up standards by other communities in terms of health care services. The Sahtu has been asking for a regional wellness health centre like any other health centre in Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Hay River, Fort Smith or Yellowknife. We’ve been asking for this.
Actually, I’ve been doing some research. In 2005 I talked about health care in the Sahtu. In 2007 I had a statement that talked about a regional wellness centre in the Sahtu. Again in 2008 I’m bringing this issue up in terms of having a regional wellness health centre in the Sahtu. My people have faced many challenges, and we’d like to see if we can enjoy the benefits that other regions have in terms of care for our people.
You know, the weather plays a very important role in terms of medevacking, transferring people to Inuvik or Yellowknife. In terms of the travel, they have to get them on a flight, and sometimes they are unable to make it, like in other small communities. Mr. Speaker, the people in the Sahtu have been asking for a regional wellness health centre, and I haven’t seen it yet in the capital books.
I understand that some of the regions have waited years and years to get additional services in their region. We are waiting for a regional wellness centre. If you go into Tulita, for example, our health centre is busting at the seams. It’s embarrassing when you have an eye clinic in Tulita that has boxes and chairs sitting in front of you — a proper eye clinic. Or the dental services in our region as well as Tulita…. The hallways are crowded. We have a short time. You go into Colville Lake. People have to wonder if they’re playing…. And if it is, the doctor looks at his clock and says: oh, I’ve got to be there by 5 o’clock. That’s deplorable in our region.
I’ll be asking the Minister at the appropriate time what she can do to indicate that she can start pouring millions into our health care system in the Sahtu. We have a health board. We are ready to go, and we are ready to work with her. We need a regional health centre.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
