Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, Bill 80, Dental Hygienists Profession Statutes Amendment Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 30th, 2023, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. The standing committee held a public hearing in Yellowknife on May 12th, 2023. Committee heard from two stakeholders at the meeting -- at the hearing and received two written submissions on the bill. Bill 80 will designate dental hygienists as their own profession and provide dental hygienists with the option to work independently of a dentist.
Committee recognizes the state of oral health care in the NWT, that dental services are so limited that many residents go months, even years, before they can receive dental care. For many residents, there is no other option but to wait with decaying teeth and in physical pain until services are available locally. Because of the limited access to oral health care in communities, committee heard that this has resulted in dentures being made for children as young as 12 years old.
For those who can afford it, residents resort to paying for their own travel expenses to go to Yellowknife, or further south, to receive dental work. This is not an acceptable solution when dental hygienists could be empowered to work independently. Committee heard from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation the benefits of enacting Bill 80, specifically that it will potentially allow for greater access to federal funding. It would allow the IRC to bring services into communities faster. It would enhance the quality of life in the region. The IRC recognized the relationship between oral health and mental health, with those having access to oral health having greater self-esteem and self-confidence.
While committee endeavoured to negotiate a date for implementation of the bill, committee could not find agreement with the department.
On August 3rd, 2023, committee held a clause-by-clause review of the bill with the sponsoring Member and moved two motions to amend the dates for implementing the regulation of dental hygienists. Committee recognizes the challenges the department has identified to adhere to the timeline as proposed in the bill. Committee heard the challenges from the department regarding self-regulation but committee also heard there are options, and the NWT would not need to create its own association. Committee wants the department to move faster, to see concrete action to improve oral health for residents in the NWT and not wait until the end of the 20th Assembly to do so.
I would like to thank the stakeholders who engaged with the bill with committee. And individual Members may have additional comments or questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.