We’ll begin with Bill 3. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the bill if she has any opening comments. Minister Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes I do.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to introduce Bill 3, Medical Profession Act.

This Bill 3 replaces the current Medical Profession Act and modernizes the processes for the registration and discipline of medical practitioners in the Northwest Territories. Bill 3 was developed through a collaborate effort by the Department of Health and Social Services and representatives of the Northwest Territories Medical Association and their legal counsel.

Mr. Chairman, the existing act is almost 30 years old and is significantly out of date. In the provinces, regulatory colleges license physicians and also discipline their members. In the Northwest Territories there are too few resident physicians to maintain a college structure and, therefore, the GNWT registers and licenses physicians. This regulatory process will remain in the new act but some functions will be assigned to entities other than the Minister to be consistent with other health profession legislation in the NWT and in the South.

In keeping with the goal of modernizing the legislation, the language of the registration section was updated and the act contains an express

provision to appoint a registrar who is responsible for administrative functions, such as maintaining the various registers and issuing licenses under the direction of the Medical Registration Committee. This formalizes the role of the registrar, assigning administrative functions to this person instead of the Minister.

Mr. Chairman, the main reason why a new Medical Profession Act is required is that the disciplinary process in the existing act does not clearly separate the investigative and adjudicative provisions. This is of concern, as it is contrary to the laws of natural justice. To ensure procedural fairness, the new act has a provision for the express appointment of a complaints officer who will be responsible for reviewing and deciding on how the complaint will be handled. A separate investigator will look into the matter if the complaint cannot be resolved in the early stages of the review and, most importantly, the person that investigates a complaint cannot also sit on the panel that hears the complaint if it is referred to a board of inquiry.

The new act also includes an alternative dispute resolution mechanism so that not all complaints have to automatically be decided by a board of inquiry.

Mr. Chairman, there is a movement towards assessing the qualifications and practice of international medical graduates. In order to meet the growing demand for medical professionals, the NWT will have to consider such options for recruitment and retention. The new Bill 3, Medical Profession Act, has a provision for the appointment of a review officer to allow for a process to assess these “non-standard” applications. The Department of Health and Social Services will closely monitor national trends regarding the assessment of the qualifications and practice of international medical graduates and will determine how best to adapt these trends to the North.

Mr. Chairman, we all know that innovative, reliable technology is vital to the safe, sustainable delivery of health care in the NWT. This act gives the flexibility to be able to license medical practitioners who practice medicine in the Northwest Territories by employing telehealth technology to bring specialized services to northern patients, while still physically being in another jurisdiction. This issue is being discussed at a national level and a consistent approach can be adopted by regulation in the future,

I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Programs for their review of this Bill 3, Medical Profession Act, and for their comments. A number of motions were put forward as a result of the valuable stakeholder input they received during the public review and Bill 3 was strengthened by clarifying the language in a number of provisions.

Mr. Chairman, I would also, again, like to acknowledge the time put into this legislative initiative by the Northwest Territories Medical Association, particularly Doctors Don Giovanetto, John Morse, Bing Guthrie and David King who were members of a steering committee that provided feedback to the Department of Health and Social Services during all phases of the legislative development. This collaborative effort has resulted in a modern piece of legislation that meets the needs of all stakeholders -- physicians and the general public -- and I would like to thank the doctors for their efforts. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Anna Reid, president of the Northwest Territories Medical Association, for voicing her support of this bill during the public review process.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my opening remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have. Thank you.

At this time I’d like to ask the chairperson of the standing committee which reviewed the bill if they have any comments. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted a public review of Bill 3, Medical Profession Act, at meetings held on February 15 and 24, 2010.

Bill 3 replaces and repeals the existing Medical Profession Act, which is almost 30 years old. The new act will modernize the processes for the registration and discipline of medical practitioners in the Northwest Territories and will make consequential amendments to the Ophthalmic Medical Assistance Act and the Pharmacy Act.

The committee heard from several stakeholders including the executive director and the legal counsel for the Canadian Medical Protective Association, the president and legal counsel for the NWT Medical Board of Inquiry, the registrar of the Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the president from the NWT Medical Association. These presentations had been prepared carefully and thoughtfully. Committee members appreciated the participation of these stakeholders.

Based on the insights of the various stakeholders, and after some discussion with the Minister, several amendments were proposed. Some of the amending motions reflected non-substantive but important changes, while other amending motions helped to clarify certain sections of the act. The Minister of Health and Social Services concurred with the amending motions during a clause-by-clause review. Following a clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report to the Legislative Assembly that Bill 3 as amended and reprinted is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes committee’s general comments. Individual members may have comments or questions as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister if she’ll be bringing in any witnesses. Ms. Lee.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Does committee agree the Minister brings in her witnesses?

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

For the record, Minister Lee, please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right is Ms. Lisa Cardinal, director of policy, planning and evaluation. To my left is Mr. Mark Aitken, director of legislation division of Justice. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments in regard to Bill 3. Detail? Since we are dealing with a pretty hefty bill, I’ll be proceeding in regard to clause 1 to 10. Clause 1 to 10.

---Clauses 1 through 10 inclusive approved

Clause 11 to 20.

---Clauses 11 through 20 inclusive approved

Clause 21 to 30.

---Clauses 21 through 30 inclusive approved

Clause 31 to 40.

---Clauses 31 through 40 inclusive approved

Clause 41 to 50.

---Clauses 41 through 50 inclusive approved

Clause 51 to 60.

---Clauses 51 through 60 inclusive approved

Clause 61 to 70.

---Clauses 61 through 70 inclusive approved

Clause 71 to 80.

---Clauses 71 through 80 inclusive approved

Clause 81 to 90.

---Clauses 81 through 90 inclusive approved

Clause 91 to 99.

---Clauses 91 through 99 inclusive approved

Bill as a whole?

Does committee agree that Bill 3 is ready for third reading?