This is page numbers 521 - 547 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th 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 housing.

Topics

Bill 26: An Act To Amend The Jury Act
Item 15: Notices Of Motions For First Reading Of Bills

Page 541

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Kakfwi.

Bill 27: An Act To Amend The Land Titles Act
Item 15: Notices Of Motions For First Reading Of Bills

Page 541

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, March 10, 1995, I shall move that Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Land Titles Act, be read for the first time.

Bill 27: An Act To Amend The Land Titles Act
Item 15: Notices Of Motions For First Reading Of Bills

Page 541

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters: Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96; Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act; Committee Report 2-12(7), Report on the Legislative Action Paper on the Office of Ombudsman for the Northwest Territories; Committee Report 3-12(7), Report on the Review of the Legislative Action Paper Proposing New Heritage Legislation for the Northwest Territories; and, Committee Report 4-12(7), Report on the Review of the 1995-96 Main Estimates, with Mr. Lewis in the chair.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 7th, 1995

Page 542

The Chair Brian Lewis

I would like to call the committee to order. What would the committee like to do? Mr. Ningark.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 542

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend to the committee that we deal with Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act, and if we are able to conclude that today then move on to Education, Culture and Employment which we started yesterday.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 542

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you very much. Do the Members agree?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 542

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 542

The Chair Brian Lewis

Okay, we'll deal with Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act. Would the Minister responsible for the bill please make any introductory comments that have to be made. Mr. Pollard.

Minister's Opening Remarks

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 542

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased, on behalf of the Premier, the Minister of Health and Social Services, to introduce a bill to amend the Nursing Profession Act.

Mr. Chairman, the act presently provides for the NWT Registered Nurses Association to register and discipline nurses in the Northwest Territories. This bill proposes to allow graduates of a Northwest Territories nursing program to be registered so that they can practise nursing in the Northwest Territories.

Currently, Mr. Chairman, the act does not provide for nursing education. Under the existing act, before a nurse can practise in the Northwest Territories, she or he must show that they are registered or eligible to be registered in a province or the Yukon territory.

College West Yellowknife Campus, formerly known as Arctic College, began a nursing education program in September of 1994. There are 27 students from across the Northwest Territories enrolled in the program. Graduation will occur in the spring of 1996.

The proposed amendments will provide for the registration of these graduates by:

-establishing a process for approving College West's program as sufficient to graduate nurses who are eligible to be registered to practise nursing in the Northwest Territories;

-setting standards for nursing education in the Northwest Territories;

-allowing for registration of graduates of the program, to enable them to practise as nurses in the Northwest Territories;

-establishing an education advisory committee to make recommendations on standards and program approval for the program.

Mr. Chairman, the NWT Registered Nurses Association will have the authority to carry out some of the provisions in the bill. In addition to current responsibilities, the amendments will give the NWT Registered Nurses Association responsibility for reviewing and recommending nursing education standards to the Minister. The NWT Registered Nurses Association will also have the authority to register graduates of College West's program.

This bill, Mr. Chairman, was developed in close cooperation with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and with the NWT Registered Nurses Association. These amendments will help the health and hospital boards of management to staff nursing positions with nurses educated in the north. If there are any questions, Mr. Chairman, at the appropriate time I will endeavour to answer them. Thank you.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 542

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. The Standing Committee on Legislation has a report. Mr. Whitford.

Standing Committee On Legislation Comments

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 542

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Legislation, I'm pleased to report on Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act.

The Standing Committee on Legislation has completed its review of Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act. The committee held public hearings on March 6, 1995 and received presentations from the NWT Registered Nurses Association and from the chairperson and four students of the nursing program offered at College West.

The committee thanked all the participants for participating in our review of this proposed legislation. The NWT Nursing Profession Act establishes the Registered Nurses Association as a corporation. The association manages their affairs and is directed by a board. The director has the authority to determine who can be certified in the association's registrar, and has the responsibility for the discipline and the conduct of the association's membership.

Under the present legislation, if a person is competent, has a satisfactory reputation, and is active and in good standing as a registered member in another provincial registering body, that person may be granted a certificate of registration by the NWT association, and they may use the title "registered nurse."

Bill 17 proposes to amend the section of the act which would deal with registration eligibility. The bill broadens the eligibility to include those persons who are competent and in good standing in the Yukon, as well as those who have completed an approved education program in the Northwest Territories and have completed the membership examinations.

Further, Bill 17 proposes to amend the Nursing Profession Act to allow for the establishment of an education advisory committee. This committee will be responsible for recommending the standards for nursing education programs as well as providing results of reviews on nursing education programs. The board of the association will receive the recommendations of the advisory committee and would forward those recommendations to the Minister for approval. The board would also have the responsibility of establishing and administering examinations to applicants who are applying for membership in the association.

The committee was assured by both the Minister and the president of the NWT Registered Nurses Association that the proposed amendments are consistent with provisions contained in other Canadian jurisdictions, and that the standards of the NWT are consistent with those jurisdictions.

Although the committee is fully supportive of the proposed amendments contained in Bill 17, the committee has one concern. All submissions received by the committee stressed that it was urgent that the proposed amendments receive support and passage immediately. All presenters stated that this urgency is dictated by the fact that the program currently offered by College West cannot be approved under the present legislation, and that the program must receive approval prior to the graduating of 28 students currently enrolled in the program.

The committee is concerned that this government implemented an educational program without the prerequisite changes to legislation receiving passage by the Assembly. In this instance, the time and money spent by the current students registered in the nursing program could be in jeopardy, should these amendments not receive approval in this House at this time. The committee is of the option that government should not sponsor educational programs prior to all the appropriate steps being taken. This will ensure that the students and the programs are not at risk.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

On March 6, 1995, the committee passed a motion that Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act, was ready for consideration in committee of the whole. That concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Legislation, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks very much, Mr. Whitford. Mr. Pollard, do you need to get some help or do you want to deal with this bill from your seat?

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Chairman, I would request that I be allowed to have witnesses. Just before you ask for that request, I would like to ask Mr. Nerysoo to have some input into the bill because Education is delivering the program and he has some words that we would like on the record, Mr. Chairman, if the committee would agree.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks, Mr. Pollard. Do committee Members agree that Mr. Nerysoo can make comments from his seat and that Mr. Pollard can bring witnesses into the House? Agreed?

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

The Chair Brian Lewis

First of all, Mr. Nerysoo, do you have any comments you want to make?

Comments By Minister Of Education

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the support of my colleagues.

Just for clarification, Mr. Chairman, I do want the honourable Members to realize that the whole process of the changes began in June of 1993. What has taken us some time is trying to develop and improve our working relationship with the NWT Registered Nurses Association and have them involved in the drafting. I wouldn't want anyone to get the impression that we didn't think this was a serious issue, and that we understood from the Nurses Association that they also wanted some additional changes and we accommodated them and we accommodated their advice. So it has been almost two years now that we've been part of this process. I just wanted to provide that information to you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you very much, Mr. Nerysoo. Back to you, Mr. Pollard.

Sergeant-at-Arms, maybe you could get the witnesses to join the Minister at the table.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you. Mr. Pollard, for the record, would you like to introduce your witnesses, please.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr, Chairman, on my right is Carol Whitehouse, legislative counsel, Department of Justice, GNWT; and on my left is Cheryl Walker, manager of policy and legislation, Health and Social Services; and to her left is Maureen Morewood, manager of nursing services, Health and Social Services, both from the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thanks very much, Mr. Pollard. General comments or general questions from Members. Mr. Koe.

General Comments

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 543

Fred Koe Inuvik

I am very pleased with and supportive of this bill. It's nice to see another professional association get the right to be able to designate who their membership is and the right, through the act, to certify that their members are members of a profession, the nursing profession. I am also very pleased to see that, hopefully through this act, the graduates of our northern nurses programs may be eligible -- and I say "may" because I note that this still has to be clarified and worked out -- if they graduate they become members of the association. I assume that means they still have to become a registered nurse. I think all too often we've had to wait and bring in somebody else because you had to go somewhere else before to get an RN degree or bachelor of science or something else. They always had to come from somewhere else. Now we're

starting to train our own people and develop our northerners through our own nurses program.

As most of you know, I have a great affiliation with nurses as my wife is a nurse. When I met her, she had come from somewhere else to the north.

The committee reviewed this, and I note a couple of their concerns. I would just reiterate that we have a good program. It is something that is developed in the north. It is for northerners to help bring northerners into the medical profession through nurses' training. The committee says that it sort of seemed like a chicken and an egg. We get it in and then we do the bureaucratic, administrative stuff later. I just want to say that we are in the midst of developing a lot of new programs and a lot of made-in-the-north programs, and we have to ensure that all the legwork and the planning has been done appropriately at the front end.

One thing about the current nurses program, I am very pleased that they did put the access year into the program. I know the bill is not specifically for the nursing program, but I would like to make a comment, while I have the floor, that I think it is very beneficial and I think it's something that most of our new programs should adopt. The teachers' education program, for instance, should have had an access year program, component to it because people who come into these programs have various levels of education and, as we will hear when we deal with the Department of Education, they have various abilities to read, write and do arithmetic depending on where they are from or the individuals' abilities.

So just generally, I am fully supportive of this. Being a professional myself, I totally agree with the organization legalizing themselves and being able to certify and register their own memberships. Thank you.

Bill 17: An Act To Amend The Nursing Profession Act
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 544

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you very much, Mr. Koe. Next is Mrs. Marie-Jewell.