Daryl Dolynny

Again, I do appreciate it is a very complex project and we’ve got to do our work to make sure we’ve got all the answers. The point is that we have done quite a bit of work thus far on this project and we get to that point where it’s called a tipping point. We’re pot-committed, so to speak, in poker terms. I want to make sure that before we get to that next round of ask from this government, can the Minister make guarantees to this House that we’ll get answers to these first rounds of so-called information before there’s a future ask of money from this government? Thank you.

Moving on to Committee Report 4-17(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Status Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today will be for the Minister of Transportation. I’m going to be going up north now with my questions. This House approved a $2.5 million due diligence for the Inuvik-Tuk road a number of months back. We heard inside the House in Committee of the Whole that findings of this so-called first round of due diligence produced 300-and-some holes, to which, as we heard from the deputy minister, were somewhat questionable. Can the Minister indicate to us here when we’d be expected to see the tabled findings of the so-called first $2.5 million so that the taxpayers...

A motion is on the floor. To the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s very encouraging to hear that we are working towards an appeals program, but that could take several months, maybe years, to achieve. In the interim, can the Minister make a commitment to look, on a case-by-case basis, if it is brought to the department to look at those patients who are waiting in the wings patiently to hear from this government, so that they can get their drugs approved for their therapies that are not previously being covered by our programs?

Thank you. The Minister is correct; and non-insured health benefits are used as a means for formulary design. However, that system does have some gaping holes in the process and currently, right now, if a patient was to question viability of a drug being covered, it goes to Inuvik to extended benefits for review and it is reviewed, hopefully, by an independent source or a professional source. Does the Minister have information whether or not there is a process for a review that goes outside the formulary design of intention? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today in my Member’s statement I talked about the truly inspirational work of one young man in Range Lake. He’s quite a difference maker. I’d like to introduce Mr. Cole Philipp; his mother, Stephanie; and his dad, Jeff, who are up in the gallery.

Back on February 16th of this calendar year, this side of the House passed a motion on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on anti-bullying. The sands of time are nearing the end in the hourglass and our question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is: When will we get a response to that motion? Thank you.

Thank you. So what we’re hearing here is that there is a peer review process involved, that physicians are involved and it goes to Inuvik for further review. But can the Minister indicate to the House if there is an unfavourable response from this peer review, is there an appeals process that a patient or another health care provider can follow in order to get that drug covered? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have questions for the Minister of Health and it’s going to deal with pharmaceutical and prescription drugs, and I’ll be very easy on the Minister, Mr. Speaker.

The term “off-label use” is a term used in the industry where it means a drug has been discovered to have properties of use or therapeutic use for something that was outside of its intended use. In a lot of cases, drug companies don’t go to the case of actually making proof of claim because of costs. Drug benefits such as Blue Cross, extended health will look at this synopsis and make their decision...