Clause 6.

Clause 7.

Clause 8.

Bill as a whole?

Does the committee agree that Bill 10 is ready for third reading?

I would like to thank the Minister and the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses out?

We agreed earlier that we will continue on now with Bill 12, Nursing Professions Act. I would like to ask the Minister if he has any opening comments.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to have an opportunity today to speak with Members of the committee about Bill 12 which proposes to create a new Nursing Professions Act.

The new act will provide for the continuation of the Northwest Territories Registered Nurses Association as the Registered Nursing Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, address many issues that have been identified by the department and the association in current legislation, and provide an up-to-date legislative framework for the regulation of the nursing profession. The act will also provide authority for the licensing and autonomous practice of nurse practitioners, key players in the primary health care model.

Some of the key provisions of the bill are concerned with:

- Describing the scope of practice of registered nurses and nurse practitioners;

- Setting out the powers of the association to manage its affairs, including the powers to make bylaws, to elect and appoint members to its governing body, to register members and issue certificates;

- Authorizing the association to establish or adopt a continuing competence program for its members;

- Setting out the duty of the association to review the conduct of its members;

- Providing for the possible termination of the functions of the association with respect to nurses in Nunavut;

- Setting out rules respecting various aspects of the practice of the profession, including the use of the titles "registered nurse" and "nurse practitioner";

- Providing for the practice restrictions set out in the act; and,

- Providing for certain transitional issues, including the continuation of membership in the association.

In addition to the bill, the department is continuing work with the nurses association and other stakeholders on nurse practitioner prescription-making authority. Amendments to the Pharmacy Act are planned to permit a prescription-making authority that is more responsive to evolving nurse practitioner practice. These amendments will be introduced in the next Legislative Assembly at the earliest reasonable opportunity.

The proposed Nursing Profession Act fulfils commitments which were made to the nursing community and in the NWT Health and Social Services System Action Plan 2002-2005 to revise the legislative framework for nursing regulation. This new legislation reflects and supports contemporary nursing practices and will accommodate emerging nursing issues.

I have recently been advised by the Department of Justice of the need for a technical amendment to the bill and accordingly I will be making a motion to amend the bill during the committee's clause-by-clause review. I would like to thank the Members of the standing committee for their consideration and support of this bill. I would now be pleased to answer any questions the committee Members may have. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the strong support of the nursing association. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time, I would like to ask the committee responsible to review the bill if they have any general comments. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Standing Committee On Social Programs Comments

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs met on Friday, May 16th, 2003, to review Bill 12, the Nursing Profession Act. The act provides a definition of nursing and in particular nurse practitioners. It establishes the Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and gives the association the ability to govern themselves through the setting of bylaws and establishing competencies.

Committee Members noted this act was developed in close cooperation with the NWT Registered Nursing Association and the government is to be commended for this proactive approach. The changes bring the regulation of nursing in the Northwest Territories in line with the practices in other Canadian jurisdictions. Individual members of the committee may have questions or comments for the Minister as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he would like to bring in any witnesses. Mr. Minister.

Yes, I would, Mr. Chairman.

Does the committee agree for the Minister to bring in his witnesses?

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort in the witnesses, please.

Mr. Minister, for the record, could you introduce your witnesses?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With me, I have Mr. Dave Murray, the deputy minister of Health and Social Services; Mr. Blair Barbour, senior policy advisor for legislation for Health and Social Services; and, Ms. Janis Cooper, legislative counsel, Department of Justice. Thank you.

Welcome, witnesses. General comments. Mr. Roland.

General Comments

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, it's good to see this bill come forward. It's been some time here in the Northwest Territories that we've had difficulty in fulfilling the obligations to ensure that health care is available to all those residents in the Northwest Territories. Making some of these changes will ensure that residents will have practitioners available to them, especially in the smaller communities, and help deal with our situation when it comes to doctors. Hopefully in the future, it will lower some of the cost that we end up fielding as a result of our remote communities and isolated situations. I think this was a good bill to come forward on and we hope that as we pass this bill, that implementation will be done in a way that is open and transparent to everybody and we can all move forward on an even scale. Thank you.