Yes, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize in the gallery, a formal colleague, Mr. Billy Lyall.

---Applause

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I was not going to ask any questions but I do now have a concern with regard to the basis of how the Minister makes judgements about medical practitioners and the way in which they practice. The honourable Member has in fact removed the practising responsibilities or privileges of one doctor when in fact he has not even been found guilty yet as a result of an inquiry. I do want to ask the Minister what is the basis or the criteria the Minister uses on allowing physicians to retain their privileges or their responsibilities?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I am not precisely sure which physician the honourable Member is referring to, but I suppose I can guess. That physician's privileges to practice at the Fort Smith Health Centre were removed by the administrator of the Fort Smith Health Centre, not by myself. That is all that has happened so far, Mr. Speaker. Steps were taken to initiate a board of inquiry under the Medical Profession Act according to criteria set out under the act. Thank you.

Supplementary. Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, could the honourable Member indicate to me how he can see the justice in having a man with a potential and existing suit of malpractice hanging over his head?

Mr. Nerysoo, you are asking an opinion of the Minister. If I could get back to you? Mr. Nerysoo.

I will not challenge your opinion, Mr. Speaker. However, I wish to ask the Minister to indicate to us and table in this House the criteria by which Members of the medical profession can make judgements on their peers while suits are being presented against them?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the Medical Profession Act is the relevant legislation. It calls for members of the medical profession who are in good standing to participate in a review of the practice of their peers where the issues which arise concern the quality of medical practice. The members of the board of inquiry are members of the medical profession who are in good standing. Being the subject of civil litigation, which may or may not lead to a conclusion of liability, certainly does not impair a practitioner's standing in the profession. Mr. Speaker, if the Member wants me to table a relevant document it would be the Medical Profession Act. There is no bar to anyone sitting on the board of inquiry by way of being the subject of litigation. Thank you.

Supplementary. Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, this is a terribly irresponsible action on the part of the Minister. I cannot see how he can justify taking away the privileges of a man in good standing in one hospital and suggest to me and Members of this House that another doctor who, in fact, had criminal charges laid against him is in good standing with the people of the Northwest Territories. Could the Minister tell me how he can justify those comments on these positions?

Could I please ask Members not to be argumentative in their preamble to an oral question? Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say again that the Minister of Health took no action to take away any Member's privileges. The medical privileges of the Fort Smith doctor to whom the Member is referring were removed at the Fort Smith Health Centre by a decision of the Administrator of the Fort Smith Health Centre, not the Minister of Health. So the Member is wrong when he suggests that I have taken away the privileges of a member of the medical profession. In fact, Mr. Speaker, if the Member will allow me to answer the question, Dr. Viswalingam is at the moment licensed to practise medicine in the Northwest Territories. His licence has not been removed and no decision has been taken regarding his licence to practise medicine. It will not be taken until the process laid out in the Medical Profession Act is concluded and I hope it will be a fair, objective process to examine issues relating to his practice. Then and only then will a decision be made about his ability to practise medicine in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Last supplementary, Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am totally amazed. I pity the people of the Northwest Territories over the medical health services they are going to receive under the Minister. Mr. Speaker, I do want to ask the honourable Member what the justification is for Dr. Covert to represent all medical professions and, in fact, to undertake the review of a peer in the presence of a malpractice suit? I can understand if the honourable Member changed the chairmanship but he is not even attempting to do that.

Premier Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, in view of the discussion that is taking place I think the Members have raised a very valid point and the Cabinet will be taking that into consideration. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Whitford.

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.