Sandy Lee

As I stated earlier, we do have a very good medical care system, extended health benefits systems, Medical Travel Policy, medical escort. We invest lots of money to make sure that our residents who need care are receiving that care. I think we have the right to ask that doctors are involved in these treatment processes. When we discover that a doctor has not been reviewing the file or the patients have not been going to the doctors to make sure that they are being supervised, we need to ask that, and that’s what we asked to do. That’s how the policy will be implemented. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, this situation that the Member describes has to do with weight loss reduction clinics as well as pain clinics. As I’ve already said in the House before, those are not benefits that are eligible under the Canada Health Act. Weight loss reduction or weight loss procedures are not covered anywhere in Canada. It is not an approved medical procedure. Neither is pain clinic in private clinics.

I want to say that we do approve those as an exception where a doctor feels that that is appropriate, especially in pain management. What we require from our patients is that they go back to the...

Mr. Speaker, I think the Member is giving me too much credit. I don’t usually intervene and order anybody to approve an escort. I believe we have a program in place where it has a clear guideline as to who is eligible for medical travel and a medical escort. There are occasions, not just in organ donation procedures but in other medical procedures. There is sometimes lack of agreement on what is needed. That is just par for the course that we need to… That is part of health care’s delivery system that is managed by human beings. There is a difference of opinion as to what constitutes a need...

Mr. Speaker, anyone from the North who is interested in donating an organ, they will have to go through a very complicated medical procedure for any organ donation. That is definitely a medical and hospital care and so they are entitled to all of the coverage and medical travel that they would require. The benefits are there. Programs are there. I will make sure that staff know that that is an eligible service. The policy allows it. We just need to make sure that it is enforced. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know he’s been recognized already, but I’d like to make a special mention of Mr. Paul Harvey, who’s the president of Ekati. He and his wife worked here two years back, moved to Australia, probably transferred, but they liked it so much they moved back to Yellowknife, to the Territories, in my riding of Range Lake. So I would like to welcome him and his wife back. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have no doubt that the Members on the other side are... They are well intentioned; they want to do what is right for the children and increase support to the children and their nutrition programs. Perhaps it would have been better if we worded this not as a committee but nutritious food project, because this is something that all the Members have been asking for and this is what the intent of this money is, and the Department of Health and Social Services is working in partnership with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to see this project through.

De...

Mr. Speaker, the length of stay of a person who needs any medical procedure is determined by the providers and the physicians and health care professionals that oversee that. From time to time we have people who question how that is applied, but that is a normal part of our delivery system. We work to sort that out as they happen. My point is, anyone who is going to be donating an organ that requires, obviously they would require hospital and medical services, they will be covered. They will get the benefit of all services. Whether it be medical travel or any associated services, they will get...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government supports organ and tissue donations. We are involved with Canadian Blood Services, who is currently in the process of establishing a national registry so that it would help connect donors with people who need organ transplants.

The Member brought the matters that he is talking about today to my attention a few months back. There was a little bit of a hiccup there, but we did resolve that. The fact is, organ transplants are very rare in the Territories. Our residents do receive organ transplants, but a donator being from the NWT is very rare and I think...

Mr. Speaker, I don’t think this speaks to bottlenecks in any department or lack of anything in anywhere. I think this speaks to complexities involved in land issues in the North, because we have municipal land, Commissioners land and other land types. Not only that, we have market communities like the city of Yellowknife and the towns of Hay River, Fort Smith, but we also have non-market-based communities where housing issues are different. Like I said already, the Strategic Initiative Committee on Reducing the Cost of Living is interested in looking at policy changes or policy options to...

Mr. Speaker, I am aware that MACA has been working on land development issues and some of the challenges faced with land over the years. Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I am aware that the NWT Construction Association sponsored this gathering last Friday. I could not attend because I went to a fundraiser for Haiti, sponsored by the Native Women’s Association. I am interested in hearing what this Construction Association has to say based on their gathering. I understand that they are seeking to speak to us. I am more than prepared to work with other colleagues on the Cabinet and Members from the...