Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my passion for helping people instilled in me growing up led me to a rewarding career of nursing for almost 20 years and to where I am today as an MLA to stand up for my constituents and all their concerns. But, Mr. Speaker, today I'm extremely excited for the Indigenous patient advocates that will be located in our four regional hospitals to begin their important work.
Mr. Speaker, as a firsttime MLA in this Assembly, I heard concern after concern in regards to the healthcare of our constituents, communication barriers, travel mixups, escort concerns, feelings of lack of respect to my constituents as well as I heard from other constituents throughout the Northwest Territories about our healthcare system and how our Indigenous people were being treated in it. So when we began our 20212022 Budget deliberations, this was one ask I felt that was important to add to our list of asks as Regular MLAs, and with the support of my colleagues as they too have heard the same concerns, we were able to get these positions.
At first it was rejected in the deliberations. They felt that they did this in other areas, but we did not let this go as we knew how important this was to have a bridge from the healthcare system to the Indigenous residents of the Northwest Territories, someone who they could go to, someone who they could trust, someone that they know that will hear them and, like their title says, advocate for them. Mr. Speaker, I wish them all the best in their new positions, and I know our Indigenous residents will be served well by them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
