Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm pleased to be here today to discuss Bill 31, an Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act.

The development of this bill is the result of swift effort by the Department of Health and Social Services and would not have been possible without the full support of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight.

Madam Chair, the purpose of this bill is two-fold:

First is to ensure that residents continue to have access to life-saving naloxone kits in their communities and from organizations that work directly with residents at risk.

The proposed change will assist in the broader distribution of naloxone kits to non-health care providers and organizations outside of the NWT health system who can then redistribute the kits to residents who are at risk of opioid overdose.

The second purpose of the bill is to ensure that the health and social services system is supported to function efficiently and effectively, which is of particular importance during the current pandemic and our existing state of a public health emergency.

The authorization of electronic prescribing will support clear and secure communications between prescriber and pharmacist and improve patient safety and overall quality of care, increase convenience for dispensing new and refill prescriptions, and decrease risk of errors and liability when compared to handwritten prescriptions at the point of care.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank committee Members for the time they have taken in reviewing and responding to this bill.

I would be pleased to answer any questions Members have. And I have two witnesses to assist me. Thank you.