Debates of August 23, 2011 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve been in the Legislative Assembly for the past eight years and throughout the years there are programs and services that continue to be front and centre in our work. For example, the ever pressing matters of housing, education, and health seem to be the core ones.

Today I’d like to speak about the access to appropriate health care assessment in our health centres.

Too many of my people have been diagnosed with cancer in my region. Something is not right, Mr. Speaker. In the Sahtu we have four health centres and one nursing station. At these health centres we are limited to the type of assessments that can be done, even more restrictive to the care at our nursing station in Colville.

You would think that with the number of people in my region recently being diagnosed with cancer and other related terminal diseases, there would be a shift in the Health department to begin the early detection of cancer, or have a policy in place to send people out to Yellowknife or Edmonton for assessments when the nurse does not know what’s going on with that person. Usually it’s too late, far too late for the families.

Mr. Speaker, in our health centres we are not yet at the same level of other health care in other regions. We can only go so far with programs and services. I’m often told why didn’t the health centre send this person out or do a more thorough check. Some are told to take Tylenol or aspirin, or simply because symptoms of their living are directly related to drinking or smoking too much or whatever. It’s like taking your car to the garage and a mechanic saying you’re driving too much or using too much oil without really checking it. Our health centres are only as good as the tools and resources we provide them.

You see, whether in Yellowknife or in Colville Lake or in Fort Good Hope, we should be treated equal and have equal access to health care. No more, no less.

Mr. Speaker...

Mr. Yakeleya, your time for your Member’s statements has expired.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Health costs continue to rise, meaning that it will come to a point where money to maintain it will be a serious question in the North and the future Legislative Assembly.

With so many changes to our diet, changes to our water, and changes to our lifestyle, we are seeing a real need to provide health care workers and our people with early detection programs start assessing our people right now for cancer.

I will ask the Minister later on what types of programs are in place to start saving lives in our communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.