This is page numbers 4981 - 5026 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 going. View the webstream of the day's session.

Bill 39: Environmental Rights Act
First Reading Of Bills

February 25th, 2019

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 39, Environmental Rights Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 39: Environmental Rights Act
First Reading Of Bills

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

The motion is on the floor and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 39 has had a first reading. First reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. By the authority given to me by motion 7-118(3), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters with the Member for Mackenzie Delta in the chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Good afternoon, committee. I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee would like to consider Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates, 2019-2020, with the Department of Infrastructure and Industry, Tourism and Investment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Beaulieu.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Sorry, Mr. Chairman. I missed one. We would also like to consider Bill 32, Naturopathic Professional Statutes Amendment Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. We will continue after a short recess. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 32: Naturopathic Profession Statutes Amendment Act. I will ask the Minister responsible for the Bill to introduce it. Minister Abernethy.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to introduce Bill 32, the Naturopathic Profession Statutes Amendment Act. The Legislative Assembly passed the Health and Social Services Profession Act to enable the Government of the Northwest Territories to regulate numerous different professions under one legislative framework and later amended the legislation to strengthen competency requirements for professionals.

Work has been under way to draft professional regulations to bring the Health and Social Services Profession Act into force. This includes regulations for three groups of professionals; the emergency medical service providers, naturopathic practitioners, and psychologists. We expect that the Health and Social Services Profession Act will come into force later this year with the regulation of EMS providers, followed by naturopathic practitioners, and both will be newly regulated professions in the Northwest Territories.

Some of the Members may recall that naturopathic practitioners were added to the list of professions to be regulated under the Health and Social Services Act in February of 2014. This decisions was supported by requests from MLAs, members of the profession, and by the 17th Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Social Programs. Regulating a profession helps ensure the safety of the public, as it establishes rules and requirements for how a profession must practise, train, and conduct themselves.

Since naturopathic practitioners are not currently regulated in the Northwest Territories, there are very few parameters for how the profession can practise. Once regulated, naturopathic practitioners would be subject to complaints and disciplines processes if a patient, a member of the public, another professional, or a complaints officer files a complaint.

Prior to bringing these regulations into force, consequential amendments must be made to the Medical Profession Act, the Pharmacy Act, and the Public Health Act. As regulations do not have the authority to amend or repeal an existing act, the department is putting forward this bill to address the consequential amendment required by the new Naturopathic Professions Regulations.

The proposed amendments will:

  • allow persons who are entitled to practise under the naturopathic profession regulation to use the title of Doctor or the abbreviation "Dr." in accordance with the regulation;
  • exclude naturopathic professionals from the Medical Professions Act;
  • replace the term "naturopath" with the term "naturopathic doctor" in the definition of the personal services establishment under the Public Health Act; and
  • allow pharmacists to accept a prescription issued by a naturopathic practitioner who is entitled to prescribe a drug.

The change to Bill 32 will not come into force until the regulations have been finalized and are ready to come into force.

This concludes my opening remarks, and I will be pleased to answer any questions that the Members may have. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. I will now turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that considered the bill, for opening comments. Mr. Thompson.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Development concluded its review of Bill 32: Naturopathic Profession Statutes Amendment Act on February 14, 2019, with a public hearing held at the Legislative Assembly building.

Six members of the public were in attendance at the hearing, and committee received submissions from Nicole Redvers, a naturopathic doctor. She expressed support for this legislation and was pleased to see naturopathic established as a regulatory profession within the NWT. Committee agrees and also supports the bill as outlined by the Minister. Individual Members may have additional comments or questions as we proceed with consideration of this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, chair. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

I would, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, please introduce your witnesses.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With me today are Christina Brownlee, who is legislative counsel, and Gary Toft, the director of policy, legislation, and communications with Health and Social Services.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 32. Is the committee agreed that there are no further general comments?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Agreed. Thank you. Committee, can we proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the bill?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Agreed. Committee, we will now defer the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 1 of the bill. Clause 1?

---Clauses 1 through 4 inclusive, approved

Committee, to the bill as a whole, Bill 32?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Does committee agree that Bill 32: Naturopathic Profession Statutes Amendment Act is now ready for third reading?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Agreed. Thank you, committee. Bill 32: Naturopathic Profession Statutes Amendment Act is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 32: Naturopathic Profession Statutes Amendment Act?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.