Clause 1. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 2. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 3. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 4. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 5. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Clause 6. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

The bill as a whole. Mrs. Marie Jewell.

Mr. Chairman, can I get clarification that this act comes into effect the day the Commissioner passes it in this House?

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, the Member is

correct. It is proclaimed by order of the Commissioner, and I can assure the House that this will be done as soon as possible. It is a matter of getting the Commissioner to sign an order, and it will be done as soon as possible after third reading.

Thank you. The bill as a whole. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Does committee agree that Bill 19 is ready for third reading?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Bill 20, Nursing Profession Act

Bill 20. Ms. Cournoyea.

Minister's Opening Remarks

Thank you. I would like to introduce a bill to amend the Nursing Profession Act, Bill 20. The purpose of the proposed amendment is to facilitate the recruitment of qualified nurses to meet the needs of the Northwest Territories health care system and to allow the board of directors of the Northwest Territories Registered Nurses Association to monitor more closely newly recruited nurses. The Nursing Profession Act authorizes the Northwest Territories Registered Nurses Association as a self-governing professional body for registered nurses in the Northwest Territories. The board of directors of the NWTRNA is responsible for evaluating the academic qualifications and the practice experience of applicants, for examining applicants for membership in the association, and for issuing certificates of registration which allow nurses to practise in the Northwest Territories as registered nurses.

The act provides for the board of directors of the NWTRNA to grant a temporary certificate of exemption from registration to a qualified nurse who is registered in another jurisdiction and who is in the process of becoming registered in the Northwest Territories. This temporary exemption certificate allows a nurse to be employed as a nurse in the Territories while preparing to take the qualifying examinations of the Canadian Nurses Association testing service and having her or his qualifications reviewed by the NWTRNA's board of directors. The proposed amendments will permit the NWTRNA board of directors to decide the term of a temporary exemption certificate and to renew a temporary exemption certificate up to a total time of two years. The act now authorizes the board to issue a temporary exemption certificate only for a fixed term of two years and does not permit the board to grant a temporary exemption certificate for a time less than two years nor to renew a temporary exemption certificate.

The amendment will also allow the NWTRNA board of directors to attach any terms and conditions to a temporary exemption certificate that the board considers appropriate.

In addition, by removing the requirement that the NWTRNA seek the Commissioner's approval for the association's bylaws, the proposed amendments would bring the act into conformity with the general practice that self-governing bodies assume responsibility for their by-laws.

Those are the opening statements, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Comments From The Standing Committee On Legislation

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The standing committee on legislation reviewed Bill 20 at its public meeting on May 25, 1992. This bill would amend the Nursing Profession Act to change some elements of the process through which nurses In the Northwest Territories are issued temporary certificates of exemption. The certificates allow qualified nurses who are registered in other jurisdictions to practise nursing while they are in the process of becoming registered in the Northwest Territories.

Bill 20 would also amend the Nursing Profession Act by removing the requirement that the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories must approve the nurses association's by-laws.

The standing committee was assisted in its review of this bill by the Minister of Health, the honourable Nellie Cournoyea, and her officials.

Mr. Chairman, the standing committee spent some time exploring the levels of legal authority that should be given to self-regulating professions. Members were concerned that there should be sufficient accountability of professions to the public. There is always room for concern when you talk about a professional association monitoring and disciplining itself, and this is something about which the committee felt the government should remain aware. Generally, the standing committee found the proposed amendments appropriate and passed a motion on May 25 to report that this bill is ready for consideration by committee of the whole. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.