Mr. Roland.
Debates of July 4th, 2000
This is page numbers 397 - 466 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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 chairman.
Topics
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In this area, my concern is the amount of dental therapists, or the lack thereof. Has there been work to try and improve that situation? In the Beaufort Delta area, I do not know if there is one left, aside from the private clinic. Thank you.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Praamsma
Thank you. I would have to commit to get back to the Member with the actual number of dental therapists practicing throughout the Northwest Territories.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Can the Minister or her staff update us as to what is going on to try and improve the situation with the number of dental therapists we have? Thank you.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Praamsma
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The health boards are encouraged to staff dental therapists positions. As the community health representative, it is considered an integral part of the team. However, our ability to influence the number of individuals who are taking the training through the dental therapist school...it is very much a federal program.
Fortunately, we were able to, as with the community health representatives, be able to see considerable lead in the number of positions that we had in the Northwest Territories when it was offered as an ongoing program. We have not done that for quite some time. Community health representatives are just now being recycled and we are looking at instituting a program to ensure we have an ongoing supply of community health representatives.
With the dental therapist program, it is actually operated under the program in Saskatchewan. So we are really looking at a recruitment and retention issue in order to be able to recruit these individuals. I can commit again to providing more detailed information as to how many and where they are located. Thank you.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 460
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question I would like to ask with respect to dentists in the Northwest Territories. I was at the Northwest Territories Health Care Association AGM a couple of weeks ago and one of the things that was discussed was the changes in the admission of dentists in the Northwest Territories.
I think the Minister is already aware of this as she has mentioned this in the House. The dentist that was making a presentation told us that unless we do something, modern dental practice in the Northwest Territories may become extinct.
The biggest problem is the loss of a mechanism to hire foreign dentists. The statement he made was, and I understand this is tied to the national admission process, but he said if the Canadian Dental Association does not care about us, why should we care about them? Why is it we cannot do...
-- Interjection
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do believe I have at least eight minutes and 42 seconds. I understand the problem is that the National Dental Examination Board disappeared, and the Northwest Territories had the option to set it up, but did not. Can I have the Minister tell me what the problem is and what she has done to fix it?
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Jane Gronewegen
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The National Dentistry Examining Board notified the department that effective December 31, 1999, foreign trained dentists could no longer write their national exams to become certified. This exam was a requirement under our legislation, the Dental Profession Act, and was amended to omit the licensing of part 3, foreign trained dentists.
Members of the Northwest Territories Dental Association feel that the change to the act is contributing to their inability to recruit dentists. Without the assistance of a national certifying body such as the National Dentistry Examining Board, the GNWT does not have the expertise or the capacity to assess the credentials of foreign trained dentists.
Foreign trained dentists can still be licensed upon completion of a qualifying program. We realize that the clinics in the Northwest Territories rely heavily on foreign recruitment in order to get dentists. I think the North may have been somewhat of an anomaly as well in that it was an entry point for foreign dentists, because I do not think this program was available in any southern jurisdiction. It is unfortunate that this examining board has ceased to provide this service.
I am not aware that the GNWT would have had the ability to step in and fill that gap. Thank you.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So the answer is that we are going to just keep going with the status quo? I understand we have lost three dentists in Hay River and four dentists in Yellowknife in the past year. I would think we have to do something about it. Is the plan of action to do nothing and just accept it?
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Jane Gronewegen
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We would like to do something about it, but the National Dentistry Examining Board is no longer providing that service. I suppose we could try lobbying. One of the arguments that is being made is that there is no demonstrable shortage of Canadian dental graduates. It is not like the physicians or specialists situation where there is a national shortage. Recruitment is difficult because of these other contributing factors with the medical services branch of Health Canada that have been discussed.
There are some flaws in the argument for foreign dentists, given that there are no shortages in Canada. Thank you.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think that it speaks to the lack of knowledge in central Canada about what goes on. I live in Yellowknife, I have a dental plan, and I still cannot get into a dentist without waiting for months. I know the situation is much more dire in the communities.
I would think that we could look into changing the laws or our legislation. I understand you are relying on the national examination to get the standards, but I would think at a minimum, we should be making a case to the national board and tell them that we have traditionally relied on foreign dentists. The records have shown that the foreign dentists who come to the North stay a lot longer than southern dentists. I understand this presenter that there are no less than 78 dentists registered to practice in the Northwest Territories. I do not believe that there are 78 dentists who live here. There are many dentists registered to practice. They fly up, get paid and go away. We need these dentists to move here and live here and contribute to our society. I guess all I would say is that I would like the Minister to continue to pursue this. I will continue to pursue it as well. Thanks.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Jane Groenewegen Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, in collaboration with the Northwest Territories Dental Association, I believe we could put forward some good arguments with respect to the authorization, time turnaround, the payment issues, those sorts of things. It might help to indirectly alleviate the problem for dentists. It might make it easier for them to recruit, but I am not sure what actions we could take with respect to the licensing, examination and credential assessments. That is something I will commit to discussing further with the department to see what further alternatives might be available. Thank you.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. We are on page 6-15, health insurance programs, operations expense, total operations expense, $35,584,000.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 18-14(3): Recommendation Of Development Of A Computer Security Strategy (carried)
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 461
The Chair David Krutko
Health insurance programs, grants and contributions, contributions, total contributions, $6,478,000. Agree?