Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to discuss the need to allow naturopathic doctors in the NWT to write prescriptions and order tests for their patients.

Recently Ontario became the second province in Canada to give the green light for increased prescribing rights for naturopathic doctors. Their

announcement followed the granting of more powers to other health professionals in Ontario, such as midwives and registered nurses.

The leader in this area is British Columbia, who granted its naturopaths the right to prescribe a greater number of medications as well as high-dose vitamins, amino acid hormones, botanicals and herbs in April of 2009.

Though Ontario and BC’s naturopathic doctors are restricted in the types of drugs that they can prescribe, they will be able to provide patients with medication they would otherwise have had to seek at walk-in clinics, emergency rooms or by appointment with a medical doctor, a duplication of services wasting both time and money. This decision will decrease emergency room wait times and clear the way for speedier treatment of those who really do need to be treated in emergency rooms in Ontario.

Right now in the NWT, the patients of a naturopathic doctor must also have a medical physician to prescribe any required tests, a blood test for instance, and to prescribe any pharmaceuticals that they need, blood pressure medication for instance. They cannot get all their needs dealt with in one place at one time. It requires at least two different appointments with two different practitioners.

The number of naturopathic doctors in the NWT has increased considerably in the last couple of years and it continues to increase. We will soon have seven naturopaths to serve our needs.

It’s obvious that more and more Northerners are seeking naturopathic doctors and liking the services that they receive. It only makes sense for the NWT to recognize this increased demand and to accommodate our residents’ needs. We are behind the eight ball, not in front where we should be.

The Minister of Health must reconsider the department’s stance regarding naturopaths, embrace them as the professionals that they are, and make life so much easier for residents who like and want the service provided by their naturopathic doctor to be combined with the ability to prescribe tests and drugs. Thank you.