This is page numbers 429 - 457 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was ---agreed.

Topics

Return To Question 222-12(6): Sanikiluaq Medical Referrals To Manitoba
Question 222-12(6): Sanikiluaq Medical Referrals To Manitoba
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Amittuq, Mr. Allooloo.

Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

October 20th, 1994

Page 439

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Some time ago, the Department of Health established a birthing centre in, I believe, the community of Rankin Inlet. I asked the Minister about allowing elders and local people to assist pregnant women to have their babies in the communities, rather than going out of the communities for six to eight weeks, away from their families. That disrupts many families and contributes to social problems.

I wonder, if there are capable people in the communities and if a pregnant woman is not in danger of complications, if the department is open to allowing community members to take over where they would really love to, along with nurses?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Return To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, the issue of birthing centres is actively being looked at as an option to provide services closer to home. The Rankin Inlet project was the pilot project and we are doing an evaluation of it right at the moment. I believe, through re-looking at health care delivery, that we should support the use of elders and people who have traditional knowledge about birthing. This is one of the elements of providing health care closer to home, that is supported by the department. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Since the department supports that kind of initiative, would the Minister support my community of Pond Inlet, where there is a group of people who have assisted pregnant women to give birth against the policy of this government in the past? I believe last year there were a few births assisted by traditional midwives. Would they support that kind of group now? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Return To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, what I would suggest is that we almost have completed an evaluation of the Rankin Inlet pilot project and we would be interested in discussing the issue with the

honourable Member's constituents on how we can marry that to the responsibility of government.

As the Member is aware, in all issues like this, once the government takes the responsibility, there are certain legislative responsibilities that aren't placed on community midwives. That raises the question about just how far we can go. But, we would be interested in discussing that with his constituency. Thank you.

Return To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister seems to be saying that there is legislation that hampers the people in the community who are traditional midwives in their practice. What kind of legislation is that?

Supplementary To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 439

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

The legislation, Madam Speaker, and the policies guide how we provide health

services and programs to individuals. Once a process such as midwifery comes under the umbrella of health care of government, then it becomes more complicated because there are more protections for the patient that would have to be addressed because of the responsibility and legislation that guides the health care system in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Supplementary To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So, my constituents who are assisting pregnant women to give birth outside of normal practice using traditional knowledge -- which allows the mothers to stay with their kids and husbands in the community and prevents the need for these women to go outside of the community, specifically to Iqaluit -- are breaking the law? Is that what the Minister is saying?

Supplementary To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, the issue is, once that practice is brought under the umbrella of the government, there are certain legal obligations that the government has for patients, that is not inherent in the practice outside of the system. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Question 223-12(6): Elders' Assistance In Birthing Cases
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Iqaluit, Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Madam Speaker, I would like to like to ask the honourable Minister of Health some further questions about midwifery. Madam Speaker, I understand there are legal constraints presently in place, but I would like to ask the Minister, are there not good legislative models available from progressive jurisdictions like Ontario, where midwives have been given statutory recognition and given the protection of that government. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Madam Premier.

Return To Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, yes that information is well-known to the department because this issue is not a new issue. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Return To Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.

Supplementary To Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister then, is the department considering developing appropriate legislation for the Northwest Territories to eliminate some of the current legal issues that seem to be impeding the growth of midwifery in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Health, Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, because the issue isn't new, there has been a collection of material on how a process could work in the Northwest Territories. It was the government's decision to try a pilot project in Rankin Inlet to see how it worked and where some impediments might constrain the broader delivery of midwifery in all the communities. The information is available, but the pilot project was necessary to see if there could be some areas that could be improved upon by operating the program in one community. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further Return To Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Question 224-12(6): Statutory Recognition Of Midwifery Practices
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 440

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.