Debates of August 23, 2011 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to try to address an important and somewhat complicated issue. That is providing services to small and remote communities from our regional centres. Situations such as these are a result of fairly complicated charges but the same premise is simple.

When there are shortages, especially doctors, therapists, counsellors, and nurses, the first things that are cut are small and remote communities. This is wrong. According to the community leaders of Nunakput, every time there’s an expected shortage, we just accept it. They will get cut off of services for an indefinite period of time. What does this government allow? Our small and remote communities always get the shaft on services that are in jeopardy.

I went so far as to say that for recruitment of officers, these departments don’t have to replace vacant medical positions, because they never know where they’re living in small and remote communities. They don’t know what it’s like to have medical appointments cancelled time after time for elders and people on dental and just different surgeries.

The equalities between the major centres and small communities are huge and it seems to be getting worse. The regional offices get funding to provide services to our communities, but the cuts have been made. It’s always on the backs of our communities. In addition, I don’t think all of the staff with these offices realize that they’re supposed to service from remote communities. Many community leaders have said the same staff even think their first priority is the servicing of the major centres first, the small communities second. It’s a real shame. However, if the case of servicing the small communities is second place, then this government needs to come clean and state that. This government needs to ensure that the shortages of experienced small and remote communities aren’t always bearing the brunt of it all for these positions. This government needs to devote resources to ensure problems such as administrative policies and procedures...

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Like I said, this government needs to devote the resources to ensure that the problems such as administrative policies and procedures are not hindering our medical and administrative staff from providing the services that we desperately need in all of the communities; not just Yellowknife, not just Inuvik, but all.

I will have more questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.