Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm excited that Health and Social Services and NTHSSA want to support birth work in our smaller communities. However, I understand that to build capacity in those smaller communities, work needs to be accomplished in the capital to sustainability grow midwifery capacity throughout the territory. Yellowknifers also need access to midwifery. So can the Minister please explain to me why this program is effectively proposed to be shut down? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Members, I will allow the question but, folks, you got to remember that anticipating a matter that's on the orders today of consideration of this sitting. So budget is in the committee. So if you can maybe reword the question so that it's not about a budget, we're not negotiating on the floor, that would be greatly appreciated. Member from Great Slave.
So I guess my question is the proposed budget is saying that positions will be cut, and I'm wondering why that might be.
Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to clarify. The expansion of the midwifery service into Yellowknife has been proposed. Existing midwifery service in Fort Smith and Hay River are not affected. The health and social services system proposed this into Yellowknife but there has been years of recruitment and retention challenges in the Yellowknife midwifery area. Despite years of dedicated efforts, you know, advocacy, that we just there's just been a continuation of this. But I just want to make sure that, you know, the Members know, and the public know, in addition to this it's important to remember that the expansion of the midwifery service into Yellowknife is an enhancement to the existing birthing options that already exist. And, you know, I I'm here, I've travelled, you know, to Fort Resolution on the weekend and, you know, and I hear from the community members in the small community that they don't even have basic services. You know, so when we're talking about doing the work that we are doing in this House, we're trying to make sure that we're not duplicating service. And I understand, and I fully am behind Indigenous you know, the work with Indigenous midwifery, but what's going on right now, this is a decision that's, you know, put before us, and I'm continuing to put the efforts in to making sure that the midwifery program in Fort Smith and in Hay River is supported and we can get those programs so they're not shutting down. We just announced that Fort Smith being just opened again after being shut down. So this is very important that we can get these two communities functioning properly before we can even consider expanding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services.
Colleagues, the main estimates are on the order paper for later today in Committee of the Whole. As per the guidelines for oral questions in Rules 1.7 is that 1 or d d.7(6), the question must not anticipate a matter visited on order paper consideration at sitting. You will have the opportunity to ask those type of questions during budget during Committee of the Whole. I apologize to the Minister and to the Member. So Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not want to break any rules, so I suppose I don't have any further questions. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. And I apologize, I should have called that at the beginning there.
Oral questions. Member from Tu NedheWiilideh.
