Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Asset management, not previously authorized, negative $546,000.

Bill as a whole.

Question has been called.

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s answer there and I appreciate the concept, but how much of a priority is it to assist the authority in promotion of the community itself and to get a doctor in place? I understand the concept of a central unit, but obviously in this House we have concerns about decentralization and we want to see that in the communities.

How much is the department pushing the recruitment of doctors in the communities versus a centralized doctor pool?

Mr. Bromley.

Page 8, Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, forest management, special warrants, $13.894 million. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, committee. I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Could the Minister please introduce the witnesses?

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...