This is page numbers 185 - 206 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was housing.

Topics

Physician-Assisted Dying
Members’ Statements

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Northerners deserve nothing less than the best possible healthcare during their lives that our government can provide. The same is true for end-of-life care. It should be no surprise to any Member of this House that the Supreme Court of Canada ruling on physician-assisted dying places new requirements on governments across Canada. With this rapidly approaching deadline of June 6, 2016, the Government of Canada is obligated to pass legislation permitting physician-assisted dying. Our government must now plan to regulate this process.

The debate on physician-assisted dying has been decided by the courts. The question is not should we permit this now necessary form of care, but rather how our government implements physician-assisted dying in a way that respects the dignity and values of our people.

Northerners are now looking to this government to provide certainty around doctor-assisted dying. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services later on today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Physician-Assisted Dying
Members’ Statements

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Nunakput Health Care Services
Members’ Statements

February 28th, 2016

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Quyanini, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to talk about the healthcare system in Nunakput. The Nunakput region is served by the Beaufort Delta Health and Social Services Authority based in Inuvik. Pharmaceutical products are flown into the community health centres from the hospital pharmacy in Inuvik. Medical travel allows people in the Beaufort Delta to access the same quality and standard of care enjoyed by most Canadians. The services in the communities: each community has a health centre, two nurses, except for Tuktoyaktuk which has a staff of five nurses who typically work a six-week rotational shift consistent with hiring practices in remote communities across Canada. This practice helps the Northwest Territories recruit and retain staff, but it does not necessarily build consistency and some people's perception of continuity to care. Some people feel nurses are very dedicated to their community and know their people, but others feel like there is a lot of turnover. This perception often varies between communities. An Inuvik-based doctor visits each community every four weeks for one to three days. Extending doctors' visits will help improve the lives of elders and youth. Each community has a designated physician in Inuvik who the nurses can call to discuss clients' issues, continuing care plans, and emergent needs.

Medication: medication is prescribed and dispensed in communities according based on the products nurses are allowed to administer. Many types of antibiotics vary, and a variety of other medications may only be prescribed by a doctor or a nurse practitioner during the visits. Requests for medications are faxed to Inuvik from outlying communities. It is among the responsibilities of the nurse in charge to monitor, including medication and operations of the health care centre.

Medical travel: As much as possible, practitioners try to arrange medical travel to achieve the most efficiency. Medical travel escorts may also be assigned by a physician and requests must be justified. Elders who require assistance, Mr. Speaker, should be accommodated to ensure that they get the best care possible while travelling. Medevacs are most frequently sent to Inuvik.

Birthing and other obstetrical services take place in Inuvik. Since 2014-2015, a nurse practitioner with midwifery training has been providing educational, prenatal and post-natal care in the Beaufort Delta region.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Member for Nunakput, your time for Members' statements has expired.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Quyanini, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my last point: Midwifery education is important as mothers-to-be are being brought to Inuvik during the most vulnerable time before giving birth, while this should be the very strongest part, as women need support from their families during their last month of pregnancy. This concludes my statement. Quyanini.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to introduce Josee Clermont. She is the [English translation not provided] of College nordique francophone and she is one of my constituents. We welcome her here. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Honourable Member for Great Slave.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the CEO of Avens, Mr. Stephen Jackson, who is also a constituent of the Great Slave riding. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided] I too would like to recognize Josee Clermont. She is the [English translation not provided].

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Quyanini, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the Pages who are here working at the Ledge this week. Welcome all of you. Welcome to Mitchell Inuktalik who is a grade 8 student in Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok. Also, welcome to Kolton Inuktalik who is a grade 9 student from Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok. And also to their chaperone, Gary Okheena, who may be in the gallery. I do not see him on the other side. Gary has spent time volunteering and was recently at the Northern Dene Games Summit in Inuvik two weekends ago. Thanks, Gary, for volunteering your time towards youth and keeping our culture strong. Quyanini, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd just like to welcome all those in the gallery here today. It's always great to have an audience viewing our proceedings. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I spoke about Canadian Rangers. I have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. There's no real direct ministerial portfolio that lines up with the Canadian Rangers, so I'm going to start here and see where it takes us. I'd like to ask the Minister if he's prepared to reach out to the federal government to start discussions on an increased role for the Canadian Rangers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Minister for Environment and Natural Resources.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for that question. The Canadian Rangers do not fall under my responsibility, but under Environment and Natural Resources and Transportation a number of initiatives do. We can reach out to the federal government to see what type of programs and services are available to help the Canadian Rangers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Would the Minister look into the possibility, with the federal government, if the Canadian Rangers can play a greater role in the environmental cleanups, whether they fall under the responsibility of the GNWT or whether they fall under the responsibility of the federal government.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Since devolution, a number of waste sites are still under the responsibility of the federal government, but through the department of Environment and Natural Resources, I could sit down with the Member and discuss the possibilities that he is talking about with the Canadian Rangers and the federal government.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

I'd like to ask the Minister if he's prepared to champion the possibility of creating jobs for the Canadian Rangers through the other Cabinet colleagues.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I would be glad to champion jobs for the Canadian Rangers across the north. As maybe a number of Members aren't aware, there are approximately 4,000 Rangers across Canada and 3,000 Junior Rangers in the country, so I would gladly take up the cause for that.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if he sees a role for Canadian Rangers in the Protected Areas Strategy. Thank you.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

The Protected Areas Strategy is something that's right across the Northwest Territories and region by region. That would be something we'd have to discuss with all of the proponents of these strategies.