Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are more concerns and, apparently, that's been highlighted many times, and I think even another MLA pointed out scheduling. These doctors are saying they could provide suggestions through efficiency and management of time by doing their own scheduling and they're reaching the point that they're considering leaving, if not some have already left. Maybe we could start with the first clarity on this particular issue is how many primary care doctors do we have in Yellowknife and working in the Stanton hospital? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question for the -- is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Doctors are complaining about not being able to provide timely and effective feedback with respect to the structure of the system and the problems they see. Primary care doctors more specifically have proposed initiatives. I'm asking what forum does the Minister allow good conversations and discussions about proposals that doctors are providing that can help save the health care system? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I'll certainly look forward to what I'm being told -- or sorry, looking forward to the Minister's response. And further to that question, the other issue is accessibility to their information, Mr. Speaker. So, of course, the Minister did say they've moved in there, but it's been five months.

The next problem of course is, as I said, accessibility of medical records. Patients aren't getting their records referred to south and they can't get the responses from their needs -- from their tests et cetera. So what can the Minister do to improve those rates, and does she track them? Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I had a longer Member's statement, I could probably talk for hours on this particular subject. But that said, there were a lot of concerns I did want raise and hence the question -- oral question period, sorry.

Mr. Speaker, one of the issues that was raised passionately about was being able to call for appointments, and the phone rings and rings and rings, finally takes a message, and it takes days for someone to reply if they reply. Some constituents have complained that no one even calls them back. Mr. Speaker, even my email to the Minister highlighting...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to rise on a point of personal explanation under section 1.8(1) of our rules. It says a Member may rise -- or sorry, raise a point of personal explanation in the Assembly at the earliest opportunity. This is my first opportunity.

The headline in the front page of today's Northern News Services, the Yellowknifer, reads as follows: YK Centre MLA wants finance Minister ousted. The headline is misleading with their word choice of "ousted". It leads the reading with the confusing impression that I want the Minister removed from Cabinet. I know this because a few people...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've been made aware that it's close to five or six doctors have either left or just recently have given their notice of leaving. I'd like that to be confirmed with respect to the numbers I've asked a few moments ago. Is the Minister aware of this, and what is she doing about it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was hoping to go last but I'll go any time you call upon me. That said, I just wanted to use the opportunity to thank everyone for being involved in this process. Again, I want to acknowledge the Thomas family for their advocacy. It is a grassroots initiative brought to the Assembly. This is to hopefully help many students bring more education to the North and can help empower people, and that's -- you know, it's an exciting process to feel that you're helping energize young people and get them into, you know, creating the future for all of us. So, Mr. Speaker, I won...

No, that's fine. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, when people in the public are talking about this particular matter and when it's been investigated but there's no result in one way or the other whether the matter has been assessed and found not wanting or the matter has been assessed and found wanting and further steps, there's no public airing or clarification on this particular issue. So to be clear, Mr. Speaker -- and the last point I want to hone in on -- no one wants any names issued in this particular case, so that's not what I'm after. I'm saying how do we clear the air by ending the...

No, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister said there was an investigation, if I heard on there, because she can't comment, so I'm asking what skills do they bring to this -- the person doing the process. So do they have the skills -- sorry? So I'm asking about their qualifications to be able to identify the issues as pointed out that could be referred to the RCMP.