Sandy Lee

Mr. Speaker, I could tell the Member we are actively considering that proposal from Hay River. I can’t give the Member an answer as to what the outcome of that might be. We are looking at a territorially coordinated approach to address STI concerns. We do have an STI strategy the department’s working on, and that includes looking at specific programs not only in Hay River but in the Tlicho area as well, where there is an active proposal coming forward.

We’re looking to expand the Tele-Care program to include STI components. There is some work being done to do some social marketing in this area...

It is my pleasure to recognize a constituent, Timothy Riviere. You can see he has shaved his head to raise money for cancer. He’s raised $2,500 dollars, and his hair was used to make wigs for those suffering from cancer.

Mr. Chairman, just briefly, as the Member pointed out, late in the evening yesterday he thanked the government for the capital projects: a territorial dementia facility and the Yellowknife consolidated clinic. There is no plan to build a treatment centre in Yellowknife. I think we have a lot of good capital projects happening there.

I don’t think there’s anybody in this Assembly qualified to speak about what exact services should be provided to those suffering from crack addiction or some of the major addiction issues. What I was trying to simply point out is that if you talk to anybody who has...

The system as a whole is open to accepting all of the NPs we train. I could get the information on exactly how many NPs were trained. The situation is that they are meant to be in a primary care setting and we may not be able to have those NPs exactly where they want them and in exactly the jobs they want. I think we have to respect the ability of the health authorities to make decisions about where to place those NPs. Those are the things we need to iron out. It needs partnership and collaboration with all of the parties involved, with all the health care professionals that work with the NPs...

Mr. Chairman, there are 2.5 unfunded positions in Health and Social Services, and they are in the department: one in population health and one senior policy adviser and intergovernmental officer.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my left is Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Mr. Greg Cummings. To my right is Director of Finance Mr. Derek Elkin.

Yes, those are the first eight. I think the other positions are under other tabs.

These are net numbers. I am going to ask Mr. Elkin to do the math for me.

The program at Aurora College, even though it’s nursing- and health-related, is really the jurisdiction of the college. I’m sure the Minister responsible will be able to provide additional information in that regard.

I do agree with the Member. My observation has been also that we could do a better job in terms of coordinating the government work in the way we.... The nurses we train at Aurora College should be placed properly and get the support and resources needed to pursue their practice. I think we could do a better job of coordinating that, because I am aware of some of the pressures that...

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

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Pharmacy Act to allow pharmacists to prescribe a limited quantity of certain drugs for the continued care of a patient. Pharmacists are required to notify the initial prescribing practitioner of the continued-care prescriptions.