Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Social Programs is pleased to provide the Report on the Review of Bill 4, Health Information Act, and commends it to the House.

Introduction

Bill 4, Health Information Act, is the product of extensive work undertaken over the better part of a decade to develop health-specific privacy legislation for the Northwest Territories. The Standing Committee on Social Programs commends the Minister of Health and Social Services for developing the bill. With its passing, the Northwest Territories will join a growing number of Canadian jurisdictions that have enacted legislation of this kind.

Bill 4 was referred to the committee on November 7, 2013. The public hearing was held on February 20, 2014. Numerous stakeholders and citizens provided written submissions and made oral presentations. The clause-by-clause review was held on March 10, 2014.

It is the considered view of the committee that the act strikes an appropriate balance between the rights of patients and the need for efficiency within the system. At the same time, a great deal is riding on proper implementation.

The committee proposed and adopted two amendments during the clause-by-clause review of

the bill, with the concurrence of the Minister. Both amendments are discussed in this report.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to now return the report over to my colleague, Mr. Dolynny.