Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Madam Speaker, the Minister has said that the government is not planning to develop a mammography screening policy. A major reason for putting a policy in place is to ensure targets are set for reaching a high percentage of women who could benefit from such screening. My question is, is the Minister aware that seven provinces and the Yukon have, in the past few years, instituted organized screening programs?
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
In the Legislative Assembly on October 24th, 1994. See this topic in context.
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 463
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 463
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Minister of Health, Madam Premier.
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Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Madam Speaker, I am aware that some provincial jurisdictions and the Yukon have conducted screening in their areas. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Return To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 463
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.
Supplementary To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. Madam Speaker, starting in 1990, preventative health services division of the federal Department of Health, has held twice-yearly national workshops where participants discuss breast screening programs. The federal government even picked up the cost for participants' travel and accommodation.
Madam Speaker, since we're not participating in these discussions, can Members be assured by the Minister that we have more qualified people in our Department of Health than in other jurisdictions?
Supplementary To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
October 23rd, 1994
Page 463
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Minister of Health, Madam Premier.
Further Return To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 463
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Madam Speaker, since I'm unaware of the qualifications of other jurisdictions, I couldn't given an answer, so I don't know, Madam Speaker.
Further Return To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 463
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.
Supplementary To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this government has missed another opportunity. The Department of Health did not send a representative or a representative team to the national forum on breast cancer. And I think it was particularly disturbing that nobody was sent to discuss prevention and screening. The sole NWT representative went in the survivor classification. My question, Madam Speaker, is has the Minister read the final report on the national forum on breast cancer?
Supplementary To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 463
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.
Further Return To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 463
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Madam Speaker, I will again say that mammography screening is offered every one to two years to women aged 50 to 59 in the Northwest Territories. According to information gathered from various publications and what other jurisdictions are doing, 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 from 33 per cent from breast cancer. These guidelines have been endorsed by a growing number of authoritative bodies across the world. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Further Return To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 463
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.
Supplementary To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Premier didn't answer whether or not she had read the final report of the national forum on breast cancer, which was my actual question. My final supplementary will be, why is this government not taking advantage of an opportunity to share the knowledge and experience of others across Canada, especially when it would not have cost anything for this
government to do so? Why have we failed to take advantage of an opportunity to learn something for nothing?
Supplementary To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 464
The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Minister of Health and Social Services, Madam Premier.
Further Return To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 464
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Madam Speaker, I'm not informed of every meeting and every course available in specific areas. Perhaps the department and the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital board have gained the information in other ways. Madam Speaker, I don't know if I can say there were missed opportunities. As for the report, I read several of them. I'm a female and I'm sort of in the danger category myself, so I read many publications about this topic. But, I don't know whether I have read that particular report or not.
Madam Speaker, I would provide extra information to the Member in areas where the department, the Stanton Hospital or the health system has gained knowledge, if it is not through the meeting schedule that has been set up that he refers to. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Further Return To Question 225-12(6): Mammography Screening Policy
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Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell
Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.