Yellowknife (June 13/03) - As negotiations between the territorial government and the physician specialists come down to the wire, Yellowknifers weigh in on the topic.

Nine Yellowknifers out of 15 believe the specialists are too valuable to lose. Four believe they're being greedy, while two Yellowknifers recognize their importance but still think they are asking for too much.

"I think that we have to face the fact that we live in a remote part of Canada," said Carolyn Mackay while shopping at Centre Square Mall.

She thinks that both sides should work together and the GNWT should realize that there's competition for specialists from down south and the United States.

"We have to face that reality and we have to put more resources towards that," Mackay said.

She offered a solution for the problem: pay the specialists more than what is offered in southern Canada.

"We need to make sure we put the money back into our health care system, for direct services."

However, Daniel Shermet thinks the specialists are being greedy.

"They are (asking for too much) because they get a few million and then they retire," said Shermet, walking out of Wal-Mart.

"They'll retire and then we don't have them anyway. That's the way I see it."

Meanwhile, many territorial residents are being affected by the stall in contract talks.

Colleen Macza is a Fort Smith resident who has come to the capital to give birth. Now her doctor is thinking about sending her to Edmonton.

"I'm not thrilled about being here," Macza said as she walked into Centre Square Mall.

She wishes the situation was resolved and thinks that more money could fix the problems.

"From what I've read in the papers, it sounds like that's the issue," she said.

"Either way, they need to get something in place in the interim, especially for the people that live here all the time."

Macza is concerned about what will happen if the doctors do resign on July 1.

"It doesn't sound like the people they have replacing the specialists for birth are adequate."

Glen Boyd, waiting for the elevator at Panda II Mall, believes "we need specialists in the Northwest Territories. It's essential to have them here to provide adequate services."

He thinks the specialists are "far too valuable to let go."

Lindsay Doyle is new in town but sympathizes with the specialists' situation.

"I'm having a hard time making it myself as a professional, so I can sort of understand.

"I agree with them. I think we should give them what they want," she said.

John Bourke holds a different view.

"I think they're a little unreasonable," he said. "I think that we probably pay them enough as it is."

However, he said we should do "whatever we have to do to keep them here."

Joshua Colford has a similar opinion.

"I think we need what we can get up here, really," he said, standing outside of YK Centre.

"We're the capital. We've got the money, so pay them."