Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to appear before the committee today to discuss Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Dental Profession Act. The Department of Health and Social Services is responsible under the act for registering dentists in the Northwest Territories. We are the only jurisdiction in Canada which still registers foreign trained dentists referred to as part three dentists. The National Dental Examination Board recently announced that no exams would be offered to qualify foreign trained dentists after December 31, 1999. Therefore, there is a need to revise the Dental Profession Act to ensure that we are not granting new part three registrations after the date when a dentist could actually complete their exams. The proposed amendment will cause the registration of all foreign trade dentists from July 1, 1998 onward to lapse by December 31, 1999. Foreign trained dentists registered before the amendment will be registered until the expiry of the three-year period, but will not be eligible for extension past their original term. This amendment is being brought forward because there is a potential liability if the government and Dental Registration Committee registers a foreign trained dentist knowing the dentist would be unlikely to attain national certification. The department advised the Registration Committee, the NWT Dental Association and all NWT dental clinic owners of the proposed change. No concerns with the amendment were raised in discussion with the association last week. The association was previously aware of the NDEB decision and was expecting some change to the registration of part three dentists. Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to answer any questions the committee might have on this bill. Thank you.
Kelvin Ng on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on June 2nd, 1998. See this statement in context.
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
June 1st, 1998
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Kelvin Ng Kitikmeot
See context to find out what was said next.