The next bill we are reviewing is Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Dental Mechanics Act. I believe in the absence of the Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Pollard is here on her behalf. Mr. Pollard.
Bill 8: An Act To Amend The Dental Mechanics Act
In the Legislative Assembly on February 22nd, 1995. See this topic in context.
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The Chair John Ningark
Acting Minister's Introductory Remarks
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John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On her behalf, I would like to introduce Bill 8, An Ad. to Amend the Dental Mechanics Act.
Mr. Chairman, the Dental Mechanics Act covers denturists who provide dentures to the public. Currently, the act does not allow denturists to make or repair partial dentures. Until recently, denturists were not trained to do this work. Partial dentures are harder to fit than complete dentures because they must be attached to healthy teeth. Often, some work by dentists is needed to ensure the general health of the mouth.
The trend across Canada is to change dental mechanic education programs to include training in partial dentures. As training expands, some jurisdictions have changed their legislation to allow the provision of partial dentures by denturists. The proposed amendments will allow NWT denturists to provide partial dentures, if they have the necessary training.
There will be some limits placed on the provision of dentures by denturists. A written prescription will be required from a dentist before a partial denture can be provided. Denturists will not be pennitted to take and interpret X-rays, or diagnose oral health. These fall within the scope of work done by dentists. These conditions will help to ensure that a dentist will be involved when dental work is needed. They are in line with restrictions imposed in most of the other jurisdictions in Canada.
In closing, I would like to emphasize that the amendments will allow more services to be provided and more choice in who can provide them. At the same time, the changes will protect the public interest in having services provided by qualified health care givers. I would be pleased to answer any questions that you may have, Mr. Chainnan, or other Members. Thank you.
Acting Minister's Introductory Remarks
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Honourable Member for Yellowknife South, do you have opening remarks on behalf of the Standing Committee on Legislation which reviewed this particular bill? Mr. Whitford.
Standing Committee On Legislation Comments
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Qujannamiik, Mr. Chainnan. Mr. Chainnan, I am very pleased, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Legislation, to present this report, the report on Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Dental Mechanics Act.
Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Legislation has completed its review of Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Dental Mechanics Act. The committee held public hearings in Yellowknife on December 12, 1994. Presentations on the proposed amendments were received from the NWT Dental Association, the local denturist and members of the Seniors'/Elders' Society of the NWT.
The Dental Mechanics Act of the NWT currently allows a dental mechanic, or denturist, to provide two services. These services are the making and repairing of complete upper and lower dentures, and the taking of impressions, bite registrations, trying and insertions for the making and construction of complete upper or lower dentures.
Bill 8 proposes to allow a dental mechanic, or denturist, to also make and repair any partial denture providing a written prescription has been received from a licensed dentist.
lnfonnation provided to the conunittee indicated that denturists do not have sufficient training or experience in the treatmeuts that may be required prior to providing a patient with partial dentures. It was noted during the public presentations that partial dentures are often carried out at the end of an extensive treatment plan involving restorations, extractions, gum treatment and the preparation of the teeth themselves.
The committee also heard concerns regarding the denture services people in outlying communities are receiving. It was stated that many people in the small communities were waiting for long periods of time for the construction or repair of their dentures. Dental services are provided to outlying regions by way of contract with dental clinics. These contracts are funded by the federal government under the non-insured program. These contracts are put out for tender for two to three-year periods. Under these contracts, dentists currently provide a full range of dental services including dentures. The standing committee felt that a territorial denturist could provide services to these outlying communities in a more efficient and timely manner, if denturists were to travel to these communities with the dentist. The committee did ask the department if thay would be willing to negotiate a similar agreement with the federal government to provide funding for a territorial denturist to accompany a dentist when travelling to the communities. The department agreed to raise this with the federal government.
Alter completing its public review and deliberations regarding the proposed amendments to the Dental Mechanics Act, the committee endorsed the conservative approach found in Bill 8. The committee feels that the amendment supports the public interest and does not compromise public safety.
On December 15, 1994, the standing committee passed a motion that Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Dental Mechanics Act, be referred to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in committee of the whole. That concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Legislation, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Standing Committee On Legislation Comments
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Before we proceed to general comments, I would like to ask the honourable Minister if he wishes to bring in the witness or witnesses.
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John Pollard Hay River
If I might, Mr. Chairman.
Standing Committee On Legislation Comments
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The Chair John Ningark
Do we have the agreement of the committee that Mr. Minister bring in his witnesses?
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. For the record, Mr. Minister, please introduce the witnesses to the committee.
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John Pollard Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, on my right, your left, Denise Gagnon, legislative counsel, Department of Justice, Government of the Northwest Territories; and, on my left, Cheryl Walker, manager of policy and legislation, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Standing Committee On Legislation Comments
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The Chair John Ningark
Welcome to the committee, madams. The floor is now open for general comments on Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Dental Mechanics Act. Mr. Zoe.
General Comments
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Henry Zoe North Slave
Mr. Chairman, with regard to the bill that we're discussing, I think the government has taken a step in the right dired.ion, in my view, to have denturists finally recognized. I know the services they can provide is very valuable, especially in small communities. But I have some concerns or questions that I would like answered.
Mr. Chairman, qualifications is an area that interests me. How does one register if this legislation goes through? What's the process that's going to be used? If somebody comes right out of school, denturist school, if there's such a thing as that, if thay come out of denturist school obviously if they pass they get their certificate. Does that mean that if they do move up here, they would have to register or are they required to have a licence from another province first before they can even register ... (Microphone turned off).
General Comments
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Zoe.
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Henry Zoe North Slave
It cut me off. Where was I? With regard to registering, does one have to have an actual licence from another province first or can they just come directly from a school to get registered here? That's one question that I would like the Minister to answer.
Mr. Chairman, another concern that I have which I don't think has been noted, the Legislation committee is recommending that they've asked the department if they would allow the denturist to accompany a dentist when travelling to communities. I understand that they wanted to make it similar to the eye doctor, with the optical company following them around. I guess that's the analogy I can use. I guess that's what they want to use. However, why can't a denturist travel by himseH? For instance, if there's a denturist here in Yellowknife, why couldn't he travel to Rae Edzo, for instance, by himseH without a dentist accompanying him? Why is there that particular limit?
I understand that the Legislation committee is suggesting that a denturist accompany a dentist when he's doing his regular travel and I understand that the regular dentists do have a contract with us to travel to smaller communities on a regular basis. I understand that and I think that's it's a good idea, but I'm just curious as to why they won't let the denturist travel by himself to communities where he feels he can provide these services? Those were some of the general comments I wanted to make, Mr. Chairman. Mahsi.
General Comments
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. I believe the honourable Member has two questions. Mr. Minister.
General Comments
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John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, the first question, yes, the denturist would have to register with the registrar at Safety and Public Services and they would have to hold a licence issued by a province to engage in the business of complete denture construction and (b), they would have to satisfy the Commissioner that he or she is in good standing.
Secondly, with regard to travel for the denturist, I believe the Minister of Health committed to the Standing Committee on Legislation that she would pursue the federal government in that regard and on January 19, 1995, the federal government
responded that costs associated with travel, accomodation, meals, and freight would be covered for denturists when services are provided on a fee-for-service basis, in accordance with the non-insured health benefits schedule of dental services. The federal government is prepared to assist denturists to move around in the Northwest Territories.
The third question which really deals with can the denturist travel individually to a community; there's nothing that precludes that from happening, Mr. Chairman. I should point out to you though that there is a requirement by the health boards that there be some contractual wording between them and contractors who work in their buildings so that's one of the issues thet has yet to be worked out. However, the department is aware of the wrinkle and we'll try and get around thet thing, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
General Comments
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. General comments. Mr. Zoe.
General Comments
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Henry Zoe North Slave
Mr. Chairman, the reason I asked with regard to registration was that I note that a lot of our professions, I guess -- nurses, teachers, even dentists - come from England and a lot of them come directly to the territories. That's why I was questioning. If somebody, say from England, comes over to Yellowknife and makes his home permanently here and doesn't hold a provincial licence, why would he have to be registered in another province first before registering here? That's why I was asking those particular questions with regard to registration. Why couldn't we just register... is the Minister indicating that we don't have the expertise to determine if that particular school thet this individual comes from or holds another licence from another country, that we can't verify that? Is that the reason why we are suggesting that they heve to be registered in another province first, before we even register them here? Is that the problem that we have? That's why we have it written in the manner that the Minister indicated? Thank you.
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you, Mr. Minister.
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John Pollard Hay River
Mr. Chairman, presently if there are countries who train dentists or health professionals and they are accept in Canada -- and some countries are not -- then, yes, those people can come to the Northwest Territories but within a certain period of time, they have to do their board examinations and become qualified in Canada. Yes, there are dentists, as Mr. Zoe said, from other countries -- such as England -- who come here and practice. At the present time there's an orthodontist in the Northwest Territories who is also a dentist and she's able to practice as a dentist but not as an orthodontist because she hasn't done the board exams. In this particular regard, and the second part of the question about the licensing, we do not have a denturist college in the Northwest Territories so we are not able to issue those particular licenses just the same as we only issue licenses to people based on qualifications gained in other areas in Canada for either medicine or for dentistry. It's virtually the same, Mr. Chairman. We couldn't take a plumber off the street and say well, go work on this plate and if we think you do it good enough then we'll make you into a denturist. That's not possible with us. Thank you.
General Comments
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The Chair John Ningark
Qujannamiik. General commenls. Are we ready for clause by clause? Mr. Whitford.
General Comments
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Tony Whitford Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just by way of general comments, I'm really pleased that this is before the House now for discussion and on the way to passage. I think the north is quite fortunate to have the talent that does come with the professions and the people that do come from other countries and other provinces and make their homes here in the territories and provide the necessary services to the people of the territories without having to either go out to a facility somewhere else or have to send stuff out to these facilities for work and repair. This was something that was long overdue and it's certainly pleasing to the people that I represent that this is going to be enacted so that it would make it easier for denturists to practice in the territories. It's just by way of comments.
General Comments
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Any further general comments? Clause by clause?
General Comments
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Clause By Clause
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The Chair John Ningark
Clause 1.
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Clause 2.
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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The Chair John Ningark
Qujannamiik. Clause 3.
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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The Chair John Ningark
Clause 4.
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Clause 5.
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Clause By Clause
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The Chair John Ningark
Qujannamiik. Clause 6.
Clause By Clause
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Clause By Clause
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The Chair John Ningark
Qujannamiik. Clause 7.
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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February 22nd, 1995
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The Chair John Ningark
The bill as a whole?
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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The Chair John Ningark
Does the committee agree that Bill 8 is now ready for third reading?
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
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The Chair John Ningark
Bill 8 is now ready for third reading. I would like to thank the honourable Minister and the witnesses for appearing before the committee. Thank you very much.
Now what is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.
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Clause By Clause
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The Chair John Ningark
The motion to report progress is not debatable. All those in favour of the motion, signify in the usual manner. Do we have a quorum? Yes, we do. All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.
Clause By Clause
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The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The House will come back to order. Item 21, report of committee of the whole.