Health committee  I'm glad you've mentioned that and inquired about it. I think today, at this table, the colleagues here and our sisters here have demonstrated that a community has the potential to produce their policies, to improve their lives. They know what the problem is and they can correct the problem.

Health committee  We have submitted some proposals in terms of the need for adequate housing and infrastructure. We are told, in terms of the policies, that they have put us for future years. They've told us that the allocation is not enough. There is no funding in place. But we still hear that there is funding available for overseas and for other subsidies where Canada provides funding.

Health committee  Yes, we can administer that. In fact, just last fall I had a meeting with a provincial official. I live in a remote community, I have no airport. I live in pretty well a very remote community. The closest airport is half an hour, driving range, by boat. I have requested that the minister do the testing in a remote area of how fast and how efficiently they can do the job of dropping off the vaccines and all the medication, all the supplies.

Health committee  Only 10% of people have water; 90% don't have water.

Health committee  Okay. The economic and housing crises are questions as well for long-term purposes. In closing, I want to commend the Standing Committee on Health for its diligence in the search for preparedness of first nations to respond to the pending H1N1 pandemic. The answer is no. The communities are vulnerable, and if tragic consequences should occur, then we should not be surprised.

Health committee  Good afternoon, Madam Chair and members of the Standing Committee on Health. I want to thank the committee for your kind invitation to present to the government on the status of preparedness of Island Lake communities on the matter of an anticipated H1N1 pandemic for this coming fall season.