Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement and ask the Minister of Health and Social Services some questions about the idea of continuous prescriptions. What policies do doctors follow right now in determining how long a prescription will last and how it should be renewed? Is that policy the same under all health authorities no matter how they operate? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I, too, am rising in support of this motion and I’ll certainly be voting in favour of it. In a time when we’re talking about devolution and decentralization, a search and rescue base in the North only makes sense, and in fact the federal government, it has been said, is paying a lot of attention to the North. So here is another way that they can continue with the North as a priority. Thank you.

I’m glad that there is inventory taken of facilities. Is there a plan to fix these deficiencies as they are noted, particularly the Blackstone? Is there a plan to fix the noted deficiencies? I’m not too sure if it came out in the inventory as well. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing a copy of that year-end report as well. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to raise an issue with the Minister of ITI. It has come to my attention that there was a letter of complaint written about the Blackstone Territorial Park. Tourists found it in a sad state of repairs. The washrooms weren’t working, showers weren’t working, trailer dump station wasn’t working. When tourists travel in our region, we have to have good park facilities. They do mention that the staff there was very friendly and courteous and tried to be helpful whenever they could, but it seemed that, over time, Blackstone is apparently being neglected...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was just wondering if our legislation provides for nurse practitioners to also dispense medical prescriptions. Thank you.

The Minister mentioned the pharmaceutical strategy. I’m glad that at least they are evaluating it, but will the Minister review the prescription renewal system and make some changes that work better for smaller communities across the Northwest Territories? Do we have to wait for that pharmaceutical strategy? I think it would be implemented far sooner than the whole strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 84-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2012-2013, be now concluded, and that Tabled Document 84-17(3) be reported and recommended as further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased that the Minister is willing to do that. Will the Minister advise me when they begin those discussions? I will certainly share that with the constituents travelling from Nahendeh. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes they are housed here overnight and their appointment is in the morning, and then they still have to wait a long day as well. In fact, I had a resident actually ask the hotel for a half a day rate, but the hotels in Yellowknife don’t do that.

Is the Minister willing to talk with the Hotel Association in Yellowknife or something to allow half a day stays and somewhere they can relax? Often they are travelling with children or elders. They just have nowhere to go during the day. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.

---Carried