Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the life of the 16
th
Assembly the Department
of Health and Social Services has been working towards the development of legislation for health care professionals in the Northwest Territories where only a few practitioners are employed; professions such as psychologists, chiropractors and other related allied health professions. It’s my understanding that this legislation is intended to protect these professionals’ titles as well as require the practitioners to be licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction before she or he can work here in the Northwest Territories.
As the department moves forward with this legislation, I believe it will be important to include naturopathic doctors. Naturopathic medicine blends
modern scientific knowledge with traditional, natural forms of medicine. The naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and treat the underlying causes of disease.
Across Canada more and more people are seeking and benefiting from naturopathic medical care and the number of licensed naturopathic doctors is increasing. This is true in the Northwest Territories as well. Recently, a third naturopathic doctor, originally from the South Slave, opened office here in Yellowknife. A fourth, also originally from the Northwest Territories, is expected here shortly. Residents both in Yellowknife and throughout this Territory have expressed an interest in these services.
If nothing else, the increased demand for these services and increased number of providers suggests strongly that naturopathic doctors should be included in the legislation currently being considered by the Department of Health and Social Services. Personally I suggest it be taken a step further, with more specific legislation developed towards naturopathic doctors themselves. The current legislation being developed will likely protect the titles and require certain education and licensure for practitioners, but it will miss important items which should be included to ensure that naturopathic doctors can provide optimum care to patients.
To optimize care to patients and ensure utmost safety, four things are required: first, title protection; second, clear definition of scope or practice accepted in the Northwest Territories; third, allow naturopathic medical visits to be medically tax deductible expenses; and, fourth, restricted access for scheduled natural health products and basic primary drugs which naturopathic doctors are trained to dispense as a last resort.
Later today I will be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services some questions on this topic.