Doctors are becoming few and far between in the North. In order to fill the void, registered nurses must be given the latitude to fill in where before only doctors were allowed to tread.

One medical practitioner told us the dwindling doctor supply is the result of changes in Canadian medical education and competition for our doctors from the United States, among other jurisdictions.

In years gone by, doctors would practice medicine for two years prior to specialty training. Often those new, young doctors would choose to complete their two years in Canada's more remote regions. Now many doctors go straight from medical school to specialty classes, from where they emerge only to take a position at a big southern hospital.

And while the North's fee schedule for doctors is not out of line for other Canadian jurisdictions, it's hard to fault a young doctor who is recruited by an American hospital offering guaranteed income, a signing bonus and a warmer clime.

One other key factor that is keeping doctors from moving North is new location restrictions being implemented by some provinces. These restrictions often mean that a doctor who is in line for a job at a big city hospital loses his place in that line if he chooses to move outside the jurisdiction for a few months or years.

Right or wrong, those provinces have their healthcare needs to look after just like the NWT does.

In the wake of these developments, the North would be wise to take more than a long, hard look at empowering our nurses with roles presently filled by doctors. At the very least it would relieve some of the pressure being currently felt by our remaining doctors.

But that doesn't mean our government shouldn't continue with its aggressive doctor recruitment program. We will always need doctors. It just means nurses will be playing a different role, one that will take some pressure off the healthcare system.

Last week, the Kivallik MLA called for a public inquiry into the Keewatin Regional Health Board following recent decisions by the board to sever ties with the Northern Medical Unit.

For two months now this debate has gone on. It began with the UNW calling for a public inquiry. Then Rankin Inlet's hamlet council requested an investigation into the KRHB plus they wanted KRHB chairperson's resignation.

There seems to be no doubt that the Keewatin is not happy with the way the KRHB is running their affairs.

It's been called dictatorial, unco-operative and without concern for the well-being of the people it caters to.

There's a lack of trust in the board for reasons that are all too apparent.

Decisions have been made in the past that do not reflect the feelings of community leaders.

The board says it is on the up and up, it's done its consulting and it has a plan -- but region residents still have many unanswered questions.

Is it a stubborn game the board and the health minister is playing? Are they hoping the controversy, confusion and concerns are going to go away as they plow through their plans?

People want to know why the minister is not touching the KRHB issue.

Sure, the decision made by the board are within its jurisdiction, but when confidence is lost in a health board, where can the people turn? The minister is the logical person to appeal to.

It's time for the minister to do something.

The board has privatized the dental therapy program, but it's not too late for the minister to change the board's decision on medical services.

After Sept 31, the NMU will be no more, yet no replacement plan has been announced as yet.

The board said it is approaching the NMU to obtain practitioners and medical specialists to work directly for the board, but according to letters written by these doctors, they're not interested in working for such a disorganized board.

At this point it's hard to say where the doctors are going to come from, but regardless, their will be mass confusion in the Keewatin's medical sector after Sept. 31.

Many residents are already living in fear, not knowing what services they can expect in the coming months if the board and minister don't begin telling them more about what is going to happen come October.

NMU doctors have said they would like to meet with the new doctors to ensure patients don't suffer from the administrative and medical changeover.

To date no discussions have taken place between the old and the new. One has to wonder why.

It's time for Health Minister Kelvin Ng and his government to address the seriousness of this issue and take action to ensure that Keewatin residents continue to receive the medical services and peace of mind all Northerners are entitled to.

It's terrible that university students from across Canada at recent unity conference would discuss the differences and similarities only between Canada's provinces, which make up just two-thirds of this country.

While the North was represented at the Hull, Que., conference by two Yellowknifers, and by the end of the conference many included the North in their talks, such ignorance at the university level is sad.

If this reflects what southern students are being taught, then southern educators should be ashamed. Every Canadian deserves a well-rounded education that takes into account the diversity of all of Canada, not just that part south of the 60th parallel.

For the sake of unity, that we start learning a little bit more about each other.