Okay. Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act. Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to introduce Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act. The proposed amendments to the act will ensure the legislation complies with national licensing standards. This will enable the Government of the Northwest Territories to better meet its obligations under the Labour Mobility chapter of the Agreement on Internal Trade.

The proposed amendments will require that all veterinarians who apply to be licensed to practice in the Northwest Territories hold a Certificate of Qualification upon successful completion of examinations set by the National Examining Board of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. This new requirement will not apply to veterinarians already licensed in the Northwest Territories.

Another minor amendment includes an increase to the maximum fine for offences under the act to better reflect the seriousness of the offence and make the fine consistent with other NWT health profession legislation. Also, the language of the act was modernized and terminology relating to the profession was updated. For example, “veterinary surgeon” was substituted with the modern title of “veterinarian.”

That concludes my opening comments. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Minister Lee. Would the chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, who reviewed the bill, like to make some comments on the bill? Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Social Programs conducted its public review and clause-by-clause consideration of Bill 1 on May 12, 2010, in Yellowknife. The committee heard no concerns from the public during this review. The Members thank the Minister and her staff for presenting the bill.

This bill amends the Veterinary Profession Act to provide an applicant for registration in the veterinarian register who is not already registered as a veterinarian in the province or territory. They must have been granted a certificate of qualification upon successful completion of examinations set by

the National Examining Board of the Canadian Veterinarian Medical Association.

In addition, this bill amends some provisions about registration fees to ensure consistency, and updates terminology relating to the veterinarian profession to reflect contemporary usage. There are also some small changes to clauses to conform to prevailing drafting practices. Finally, the bill includes consequential amendments to the Herd and Fencing Act, the Pharmacy Act and the new Medical Profession Act.

During the clause-by-clause consideration, the committee and the Minister agreed to a minor non-substantive amendment to the bill. Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 1 to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and printed.

This concludes committee’s opening comments on Bill 1. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Lee, do you have witnesses you’d like to come in?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Lee. Sergeant-at-Arms, please let the witnesses into the Chamber.

Minister Lee, can I please get you to introduce your witnesses to the committee.

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

Thank you, Minister Lee. Are there any general comments on Bill 1? Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one quick question. I recognize that the changes to this act don’t apply to veterinarians who are currently licensed in the NWT, but we do have, certainly, small communities where we don’t have a licensed veterinarian in residence and there are people within the communities who do do some semi-veterinarian work. I’m just wondering whether or not any of these changes to the act are going to infringe on the work that some of these people do in the absence of a licensed veterinarian onsite or anybody who comes in from time to time. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, it would not have an impact on the work that they do. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Lee. Does committee agree that there are no more general comments?

Does committee agree that we proceed with clause-by-clause on Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act?

Okay. Let’s begin on page 1 of Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act. Clause 1.

---Clauses 1 to 16 inclusive approved

Does committee agree that we have concluded clause-by-clause?

Does committee agree that we have concluded consideration of Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act?

Does committee agree that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act, is ready for third reading?

---Bill 1 as a whole approved for third reading

Thank you, Minister Lee. Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses out, please.

Does committee agree that we proceed with Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Dental Auxiliaries Act?