Thank you, Chair. Thank you for having me here today.
Like Dr. Powlowski, I typically sit at the INAN committee, so I am bringing that flavour to this.
I quickly looked at the motion last night and the sense of disparity in access to health service for rural, indigenous and lower-income folks. As an MP who serves the northern half of the province of Saskatchewan—71,000 people over about 350,000 square kilometres or about the size of Germany—I think I bring some of that flavour to the table. I appreciate the opportunity today.
I appreciate the witnesses and their testimony. There are a couple of quick question that I would like to get to in my time.
Obviously, remoteness and distance from services are a big deal to communities like mine, and access to professional services. One thing I heard last week from some leaders in my riding is that during the pandemic they had access to remote mental health services. They were doing it via virtual meetings and that type of opportunity, and they're very concerned that it is going to end.
My question for you is a bit twofold.
Is that concern valid in the sense of losing that? Obviously that's significant. Can you speak to the opportunity, or the quality or ability, to actually provide those services virtually? That's a big deal deal when you're six or eight hours away from the nearest professional.
I would quickly go to both of you, if you don't mind.