Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This motion is an intentionally public process to bring the issue to light of public scrutiny. This is an action Regular Members can take that is significant, holds government to account, and insists that systemic change must happen before more highly preventible deaths do.
Mr. Speaker, I know that the health and social services Minister cares deeply about this issue. I know she wants to make this system work better for all residents. In summary, I believe that this critical incident review will help provide her with some necessary tools to get this urgent work done.
In closing, I would like to request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Member for Great Slave. The Member for Yellowknife North. The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. The Member for Deh Cho. The Member for Sahtu. The Member for Range Lake. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. The Member for Monfwi. The Member for Frame Lake.
All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.
The Member for Thebacha. The Member for Yellowknife South. The Member for Kam Lake. The Member for Hay River North. The Member for Hay River South. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. The Member for Nunakput.
Thank you. Those in favour, nine. Opposed, zero. Abstentions, seven. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Motions. Member from Range Lake.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the colleagues who spoke joining debate around this motion and, in particular, those who are supporting it. Compassion is the name of the game here, and it's to find a way to develop a compassionate policy that can address these circumstances. And I know these things are complicated. I know medical travel's incredibly expensive and often quite complicated, and I have sympathy for the honourable Minister and her commentary on this motion. However, I think we should get into the business of finding ways to -- reasons how we can overcome challenges instead of just a list of challenges as to why we can't do things. Far too often do we present all the reasons why we can't instead of finding the way -- instead of finding the ways so we can. And in this case, I think the Member for Yellowknife North spoke quite eloquently about this. If it doesn't make sense to put someone in a situation that's unsafe and fly them down with their loved one, then find another way to do that. We're not being prescriptive about how we develop this compassionate policy, only that it be developed, and it be done in a way that we could help people at a time when they're extremely vulnerable, extremely stressed. And not everyone can afford these flights.
I had a constituent who was asked to join a Zoom call while their loved one was comatose and make decisions about their care. Can you imagine that, Mr. Speaker, being put into that situation where you can see through your TV screen your unconscious husband, and you have to make decisions about their care? This is the situation we're trying to address. This is not saying send everyone down regardless. It's in these very particular situations, these very serious, life and death emergencies. Those are the people we want an exemption for. We don't want the policies to change globally; we want an exemption, a compassionate policy developed just so the House is clear on what this motion is calling for. It is not going to open Pandora's Box to, you know, whole new range of costs for medical travel that will already make an unsustainable system even more unsustainable. So I just want to be clear on that. The compassionate grounds is what we're asking for, what this motion is calling for, and it's long overdue. Because no one should have to pay out of pocket to care for their loved ones.
So thank you, again, to Members for their support and for their comments in the debate. And I will ask for a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Member for Range Lake. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. The Member for Frame Lake. The Member for Great Slave. The Member for Yellowknife North. The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. The Member for Deh Cho. The Member for Sahtu.
All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.
The Member for Thebacha. The Member for Yellowknife South. The Member for Kam Lake. The Member for Hay River North. The Member for Hay River South. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. The Member for Nunakput.
Colleagues, all those in favour, eight. Opposed, zero. Abstentions, seven. The motion has been passed.
---Carried
