Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Pharmacy Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we would then have to add six more rooms. There are four rooms in there right now. For the YACCS dementia centre that we’re building, we’re spending $500 per unit. Second of all, in order to accommodate ten seniors, we would need at least 12 to 15 staff. That would be about $1.5 million to $2 million of O&M funding. Right now that is not what we have planned for the Great Elders Facility, but I am looking at all possibilities to see that that facility is used as an elders centre and that programming is increased there. We have already introduced two more programs in that area. I...

Mr. Speaker, even the proposal that’s being put forward about this person who was to provide the training…. There is no unanimity, no agreement, on what exactly an adequate program is.

The department has reviewed the proposal, and we feel that the proposal is not the one that we need to accept at this time. If the Member wishes, I would be happy to look into seeing how we deliver these safety programs in our communities, and I would be happy to get back to the Member on the details of the programs that our CHRs provide. Thank you.

My understanding is that the building was built by the NWT Housing Corporation to be sort of the gathering centre and to support independent units surrounding the Great Elders Facility. Historically there has been no programming determined or O&M funding provided for that facility.

Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I have been working closely with the Member to increase the services there for seniors. Recently we had an initiative to provide $22,000 to run a day program there; we have a contract with the seniors society there. As well, we have confirmed funding from Aboriginal Diabetes programming...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that these community health representatives distribute car seats. They know how these car seats are used; they work with parents on how to use car seats safely. We are already doing that work. It’s part of what they do with parents and young moms. I would be happy to look into the further details of the program, but that’s the information I have now.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Being healthy begins with having a healthy start as a baby. It is now proven beyond any doubt that babies who are breastfed have a head start on maintaining good health throughout their lives.

In the Northwest Territories we are making exceptional progress at promoting breastfeeding as a better way to nourish infants. Annually we join other countries in recognizing World Breastfeeding Week from October 1 to 7 as a way to promote a sense of well-being and to keep breastfeeding a traditional practice and socially accepted norm when it comes to feeding babies.

This year on...

I am willing, if the Member provides me with the name of the family and the drug brand again, to review the file. I’m not saying that I can override the committee’s decision, but at least I can look into making sure that if this medication is not suitable or they’re not willing to approve it, what other options are there. I just want to make sure that his constituent is taken care of as much as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We get this kind of request often. There are disputes between patients who feel that they need medication and a doctor who may feel that they need the medication, but there is an independent committee that reviews the list of pharmaceutical products or drugs that we should approve. It is the committee that makes a decision on whether a drug should be approved for insurance or not. That is the process that’s in place, and I don’t know what else to say to that.

I would be happy to look into the possibility of increasing the time that the nurse visits the community of Wrigley, especially at the time of freeze-up and breakup. I know that the community was very happy to have a nurse there during the time we were there. I understand that the people feel more comfortable when they have a resident nurse. I will review the hours of other services that are provided in Wrigley and see how we could improve that. We have a continuing discussion with the authority, and I will continue to do that.

I would like to recognize Blake Rasmussen, a well known individual from Old Town, I think, and also from my high school grad. Thank you.