Madam Speaker, I take encouragement in the minister's specific reference to dealing with H1N1 in first nations.
As the proud representative of northern Manitoba, one of the regions that has been hit the hardest by H1N1, I am encouraged to see that direction being taken. However, the way H1N1 has been dealt with, specifically with regard to with these first nations, since we have seen the first signs, makes me wonder about the commitment behind the direction that has been proposed.
I saw chiefs put out call after call for meetings with the minister. I saw chiefs and leaders from our region frustrated that they were being denied on the basis of facts coming out of their communities, about people on respirators, about the needs on the ground. Certainly we all know about the debacle that took place around the body bags.
As we move forward, beyond the work around the vaccine, because I see we are quite focused on that, my concern is what confidence we can give to first nations in the area of funding. When it comes to giving out the vaccine, when it comes to getting extra staff, and when it comes to the fundamental issue—