Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Deputy minister’s office, not previously authorized, $1.645 million. Total department, not previously authorized, $1.645 million.

I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Would the Minister please introduce the witnesses?

We’ll do a clause-by-clause review of Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Dental Profession Act. Clause 1.

---Clause 1 approved

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, the last couple weeks I spent some time at the Hay River hospital, l and I forgot to thank them.

My questions today are for the Minister of Health. Last spring the Minister had talked about making some changes to the authority and giving Hay River some feedback. I’m wondering if we could create kind of a community-driven authority where the community could give feedback. Is there something, a board that they’re looking at setting up where the communities can have feedback? I know right now we have a public administrator, but is there any thought to putting...

Office of the Speaker, not previously authorized, $25,000.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. We’ll go to the chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, Mr. Moses.

I think the longer that somebody is obese the more likely it’s going to cost the system, and cost the system in different ways. As I indicated, I was a big cost on the system before with insulin and large volumes of Metformin a requirement.

As I indicated, the department will receive its money back quickly on bariatric surgery by reducing the amount of medication required. Has the Minister looked into the cost recovery process due to weight loss done by bariatric surgery? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the bariatric surgery and my current situation. I have questions for the Minister of Health. I guess I’m basically looking for direction from the Minister of Health. Why does the GNWT not pay for bariatric surgery?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to revisit an issue I’ve brought forward to this House before, bariatric surgery. As Members know, over the last two years I’ve been working hard to lose weight. I’ve lost just over 200 pounds.

---Applause

I appreciate that, but I’m working to pay it forward to the people that are still in the situation where they are seriously overweight. In my discussions with the Minister of Health and the Department of Health, they’ve told me the department is working on lifestyle choices, healthy lifestyle choices, and that they have lots of support out there for...