There are presently 38 children on the wait list for the youth FASD program, and the wait time varies. As an example, nine of these children are waiting to be old enough to get into the clinic, and 11 do not have confirmation of any alcohol exposure, which is required for them to go through the diagnostic process. As the adult FASD clinic has just started, a wait time has not been reported.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure I will have many more conversations on getting that information for the adult wait times and removing some of the barriers for children getting into those diagnostics. I recognize there needs to be a stigma broken down that allows both mothers and people with FASD to self-disclose, but I was hoping the Minister of Health and Social Services could speak to the current barriers, to make sure we can improve access and get those wait times down, and get more people into the diagnostic clinic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Member is correct. There is a stigma surrounding FASD, and it is a barrier for individuals and families accessing diagnostic services. The Member asked: what are the barriers? The Northwest Territories' geographic remoteness creates challenges in ensuring equitable access to diagnosis. Medical travel is also a barrier for accessing diagnostic services, and can be particularly challenging for families with children with complex needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the very agreeable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, who sets regulations for onshore oil and gas resources and also promotes such development. The Oil and Gas Spills and Debris Liability Regulations set absolute liability limits of between $10 and $40 million, depending on the location of the spill or debris caused by oil and gas exploration and development. Can the Minister explain why there are these liability caps in place and what public purpose they serve? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member mentioned, there is only a cap on liability when the person or entity who holds the authorization is not proven to be at fault for the spill or discharge, or other similar event. The cap balances the right to swift compensation against the lack of proof of responsibility, and ensures that funds can be accessed promptly, without having to prove fault or negligence on the part of the operator. If an operator or any person is proven to be at fault for a spill, there is no legislated limit on its financial liability and no cap on what they would need to pay to rectify the situation and compensate those affected, to the extent of the fault or negligence proved against them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to thank the Minister for that, but she didn't actually explain what public purpose they serve. Basically, they shield private companies from liability and, in this day and age, we need to be adopting a "polluter pays" approach. I'd like to know if the Minister can explain whether Cabinet intends to respond to the recommendations from the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment from the last Assembly. That committee recommended "a comprehensive review of oil and gas related regulation with the expressed purpose to increase the cap for absolute liability." Can the Minister explain: is she or the Cabinet actually going to respond to that recommendation?

As the Member stated, in the 18^th Legislative Assembly, ITI committed to such a comprehensive review of the PRA and the OGOA. I am pleased to confirm that the review has begun, and it is ongoing. The results of that review will inform our next steps regarding this suite of regulations. In addition, we are working with the Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations on implementing the statutory measures that were passed by the 18^th Assembly aimed at making the industry more transparent and responsive to the needs of our territory.

I think that was actually a yes. Just as we have millions of dollars of environmental liability from Cameron Hills hurtling towards us, because we failed to make sure that there was proper financial security in place, these regulations that the Minister is talking about are one page long. She doesn't have to do a big review. She can change them tomorrow if she wants, just gazette the new limits. Can the Minister tell us: is she clearly committed to increasing the absolute liability caps in the Oil and Gas Spills and Debris Liability Regulations?

As mentioned, the cap in the regulations relates to the no-fault portion that an operator would be required to pay. Those regulation provisions will be part of the review that the department is undertaking. Without having had their input on that review, I do not want to make that commitment at this time to the Member.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I am not sure what the problem is. This is a one-page regulation; one page. These limits are in there. Let's just fix it. The Minister can fix it tomorrow, if she wants. Can the Minister explain when and how long this review is that she is going to undertake? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I do not have the authority to make that change on my own. It is a Cabinet decision to change regulations. I would need to bring that to my Cabinet colleagues. As the Member is aware, we have many things going on, but I will commit to the Member to do so in a timely manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A jurisdictional scan of dental hygienist regulation was completed in January 2018 by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association. This scan includes provinces, territories, and international jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we talked about oral health, and the Member and I continued this dialogue. I just looked up the Dental Auxiliaries Act, and I recognize the section where the Member talks about having the dental hygienists go off and do their own work in the communities. I recognize, Mr. Speaker, that this is important. Oral health in the Northwest Territories, not any specific region, is crucial. It's something that, although the scan has been looked at, I am reviewing the act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm going to pretend she said "yes." I want to be part of the yes club today. I do have a yes question, though. Would the Minister be willing to commit to determining if we are willing to make this change as the Northwest Territories this year, so that we can potentially update the act in 2020?

Yes.

Wednesday is my new favourite day of the week. I am wondering, Mr. Speaker: what legislative change has the department initiated under the Oral Health Action Plan to oral health professional role?

Before I answer the question, I do want to go back. I was saying, "Yes, we will look into the feasibility study," just for clarification. Let me get back to the Member's question on what legislative changes the department has made. The Department of Health and Social Services has not initiated any changes in the Dental Auxiliaries Act. The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, however, has implemented a territorial specialist, an oral health position which is under the territorial manager, Allied Health. The dental therapist and the newly recruited dental hygienists all report to this position.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Kam Lake.