Frederick Blake Jr.

When will my constituents be provided the best quality of healthcare and receive thorough examinations when needed?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to bring up the quality of healthcare we have in the NWT. My riding of the Mackenzie Delta has a high number of complaints regarding treatment received at the local health centres, and also in Inuvik.

Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents who call me say they go the health centre because they are sick, they are in pain, they need medical attention, and in most cases, they are given Tylenol or other equal antibiotics for pain and sent home. Many of my constituents are continuing to have medical issues, and these medical issues can and will get more...

My constituents do bring up these issues, but this is an ongoing issue. Many times constituents go for checkups when they have an illness that needs attention, but they are basically given Tylenol and being sent home, and that needs to stop, Mr. Speaker.

Is our quality of healthcare being limited to save money on medical travel, as most high-quality examinations, like MRIs and CT scans, are done in Edmonton? Is that being limited to save on medical costs?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Health.

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, my constituents are demanding better quality healthcare, and I would like to ask the Minister: will the quality of healthcare improve once the new Stanton Hospital is completed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm feeling the love from the Minister here today. That's good news. That's a start, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister also ensure they identify all other areas that require guardrails from the NWT border to Campbell Lake, which is all throughout my riding?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member's statement, I explained the safety concerns at Kilometre 87 just as you arrive in Fort McPherson. Mr. Speaker, I mentioned in my statement that, last year, we had a close call. If it wasn't for the quick reaction of my constituents, things could have been much worse. I'd like to ask the Minister: will the Minister ensure his department installs a guardrail along the lake at Kilometre 87? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is just safety for our highways here. The Dempster, as I mentioned, we've only seen an increase in traffic because of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, and I'm sure it will be like that for many years to come. Safety is the number one issue. Many of our tourists have only driven on pavement, Mr. Speaker. Our highway is all gravel, but much better than the Yukon, I may add, that section of highway, the Dempster. Just for future safety concerns, will the Minister let his guard down and just say, "Yes"?

Through the Building Canada Plan Fund, we have completed 143 kilometres of widening as the Minister mentioned of the Dempster highway, which we all appreciate. Now we need to complete this work by clearing the right-of-way with brush cutting and installing guardrails to make it safe for the people who use this highway. Will the Minister ensure that this is done?

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let's talk about highway safety on the Dempster Highway. As you arrive in Fort McPherson heading south, there is a lake situated right beside the highway. The embankment is rather steep. It is the old water-intake lake. Last summer, we had a group of tourists, a camper, who veered off the road, went down the steep embankment, and almost into the lake. These people are very lucky that nothing terrible happened to them.

Mr. Speaker, we can't continue to say "lucky." We need the Department of Infrastructure to build a guardrail along that little bit of...

Our moose and woodland caribou populations are also being affected in my riding. I'm sure the Minister has travelled around and noticed the big packs of wolves we have in our territory. Will the department take action and raise the level of the incentive in my riding?