Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was delighted with the proposal, made undoubtedly with the
encouragement of the Minister of Health, to provide orthodontic services in the Baffin region recently. However, I was very concerned that the Iqaluit Dental Clinic, which has existed since 1987, was not informed about the proposal call for orthodontic services. The proposal call was advertised in a Yellowknife-based newspaper and only at the very last minute was it advertised in Nunatsiaq News, published in Iqaluit.
I was even more disappointed to learn that the proposal call issued by the Baffin Regional Health Board seems intent on setting up its own dental facility through this proposal call. I do not know if this direction has been encouraged or authorized by the Minister of Health, but it certainly seems to be contrary to the GNWT policy of supporting established local businesses, as is done in the communities with our hotel accommodations, for example.
The Iqaluit dental facility is far bigger than the population requires and, therefore, will easily accommodate visiting orthodontic services, as it already does for visiting oral surgeons.
Mr. Speaker, the proposed schedule for the proposal call also seems oriented, both towards short-term orthodontic care and also to a very large and unnecessary involvement in its management by the Baffin Regional Health Board. I believe that where local clinics exist, the proposal call should be structured so as to encourage orthodontists to make arrangements with local clinics for space, equipment, et cetera. The Baffin Regional Health Board should only be involved in providing the direct costs for travel and accommodation, as is done and seems to be working in Yellowknife.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Iqaluit Dental Clinic has been established since 1987. As this is the only service providing dental care to the people in Iqaluit and the Baffin region today, this clinic saw it as its duty to increase specialist dental care.
Now, the proposal call has been issued and it seems designed to leave out the Iqaluit Dental Clinic. This proposal call should be reviewed and improved so as to recognize the existence of existing clinics like the Iqaluit Dental Clinic as a basis for new orthodontic services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.