Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Charles Dent on October 12th regarding mammography screening for breast cancer.

Madam Speaker, at this time, a policy for mammography testing for the Northwest Territories has not been developed. A policy is not practical in an evolving field which may require rapid changes to medical practice.

The department's position is that mammography screening should be offered every one to two years to women ages 50 to 69. This is the only age group for which there is good and compelling scientific evidence that routine screening, coupled with clinical breast examination, can actually reduce mortality by 33 per cent from breast cancer. These guidelines have been endorsed by a growing number of authoritative bodies around the world.

Experts do not agree on the role of routine mammography screening for women ages 40 to 49. British Columbia is the only province in Canada that includes this group of women in a screening program for breast cancer.

Screening is an intervention aimed at individuals who are free of signs or symptoms of disease. It should not be undertaken unless a clear benefit can be shown. To date, no benefit has been shown scientifically for women under the age of 50 years.

The Department of Health and Social Services also recognizes the need for further public and professional education in this complex area. Mammography is only one component of a successful screening program against breast cancer. Another is clinical breast examinations.

The advanced nursing skills in-service program includes training for clinical breast examination to ensure that appropriate expertise will be available in all health centres in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Kivallivik, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Pudlat on October 7, 1994 regarding compensation to hunters for damaged equipment.

The Department of Renewable Resources has a disaster compensation program which allows harvesters to receive compensation for loss of equipment or cabins, due to natural disasters such as storms, floods or forest fires. The Department of Renewable Resources does not have a program that provides compensation for damage to equipment caused by polar bears or for other reasons where the harvester could take steps to reduce risk of damage. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Minister of Social Services, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, I believe the honourable Member related to small communities. I will just relate to that because in many small communities we use health centres. If I had a child who had some problems and difficulties on an ongoing basis, I would take that child to the health centre to be looked at by the clinical nurse at that centre. The nurse will further discuss the problems I am having with that child. Every health centre has a well-baby clinic they hold on a regular basis to help families identify and see a child through the pre-school age development.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the start of entry for community needs on any health issue is at the local health centre. A child is brought to the health centre, perhaps with the parents, to take part in the well-baby clinics. If it is established that a child has a requirement for further treatment or assessment, the nurse at the health centre would identify some of the areas and would probably consult with a doctor. In the communities, there are regular trips made by doctors into the communities whereby if the condition is severe or is anticipated to be, then the nurse would have on file that the doctor would have to see these certain children. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, if a child is assessed by a nurse needing extra treatment, the nurse would normally refer to one of the visiting doctors. The doctor may determine that the child needs some special attention. So that child, depending on the circumstances, could be referred to a regional centre where specialists may be available. If that service is not available in a regional centre, that individual child could be referred to some of the referral centres that are available in the Northwest Territories.

The specialists who do come to a regional centre, could very well refer an individual patient to a more specialized facility in southern Canada. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the guidelines say to the nearest centre. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.

Madam Speaker, the normal procedure that is carried out once a patient has been analyzed and is determined to require a certain treatment, generally if it's at all possible, is to try to have the parent involved with the assessor and also with what can be realistically done at home. Thank you, Madam Speaker.