Sandy Lee

As I indicated earlier, she’s responsible for setting the procedures and setting the maximum standards. I’m sure there is information on our publication material, but I will confirm with the Member as to what information is available on fluoride. Thank you.

The CEO has indicated in the media, and I have indicated to the Member, that the reason for the cancellation of elective surgeries is because of the fact that they are waiting for this equipment, so I will get back to the Member as to what is the best information they have on the date by which they expect to have this equipment in. I don’t know if the Member knows the exact type of equipment, but I don’t think it’s really beyond one’s imagination to accept that there is some highly sophisticated equipment that is being used at the hospital that sometimes takes time to have their parts...

As I said, we have had cancellation of elective surgeries. Other surgeries are going on. We have had cancellation of elective surgeries in January and February. If the Member wants me to get back to him on the exact date, I would be happy to do that. I believe that’s the same question and I’m answering it for the second time. Thank you.

The amount of fluoride that I indicated is the maximum amount and, as I indicated, the chief public health officer has set the standard procedure. It’s the municipalities that administer them and it is up to the municipalities to fluoridate the water.

Communities that fluoridate their drinking water must regulate fluoride levels regularly to ensure that they remain within the regulations set by the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committee on Drinking Water, which is currently set at a maximum of 1.5 milligrams per litre. The chief public health officer is in charge of approving the standard operating procedures for the sampling, testing, treatment and quality of water of municipalities, but it is the municipality’s responsibility to administer fluoride into drinking water and testing levels of fluoride to ensure that they meet the standards...

That’s a highly specific and technical question and I’d be happy to undertake to get the information on exactly what equipment, exactly what part, and exactly from where that Stanton is waiting for this.

I should note here, though, that our biomed department at Stanton is second to none. They have a very good staff and well-trained staff who maintain and look after our medical health equipment from all over the Territories. In my entire time of 12 years here, I don’t remember something like this happening. I have full confidence in the authority to do the job and this is an extraordinary...

I don’t have a specific date, but Stanton has delayed and lowered the number of elective surgeries in January and February.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is no increase in our budget for I don’t think any program. Any of the new initiatives are very specific areas in the strategic investment community initiatives and that was outlined in our opening statement. This is a very status quo budget and that was made very clear by the Minister of Finance when he brought down the budget on day two of the session. But we do understand that delivering the diabetes program to our people is part of our core programming and we do that through our regional offices with the assistance from the knowledge that headquarters can...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It would be part of health promotion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Member’s question. As he stated, we did visit the community. We had a good discussion with the chief and we also met in my office as a follow-up visit.

Mr. Speaker, we have responded to Chief Arthur Tobac on his proposal. We are interested in discussing with the community his proposal. Our staff has been directed to engage in a dialogue. Thank you.