Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs reviewed Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Dental Profession Act at its meeting June 1, 1998. The committee would like to thank the Minister of Health and Social Services and his staff for presenting the bill.
Bill 19 is a response to the decision of the National Dental Examination Board to no longer test foreign trained dentists after December 31, 1999. Presently foreign trained dentists are allowed to register under the sponsorship of a Canadian certified dentist in part three of the Dental Register and practice dentistry under supervision for a three-year period. The foreign trained dentist is then expected to pass the boards to maintain registration.
The NWT is the only jurisdiction in Canada that permits registration of dentists prior to the passing of the Canadian National Dental Examination Boards. There will be no mechanism for the testing of foreign trained dentists after December 31, 1999. As a result, this bill would provide that the period of registration for new applicants expires December 31, 1999. The part three provision will be repealed once the registration period of current dentists has expired.
Mr. Chairman, the standing committee had no difficulty with Bill 19. Committee Members may have additional comments or questions on the bill as we proceed. This concludes the standing committee's comments on Bill 19, An Act to Amend the Dental Profession Act. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.