Tom Beaulieu

As you can imagine, there are various ways that dialysis can be provided to patients. I would like to ask the Minister if they would look at the option of providing dialysis in health centres. I recognize that there may be a community with no patients on dialysis, so then we would not necessitate that, but something that is easy to move into a health centre. It may be a little bit better system than what they have in the home, but to having something in the health centres where dialysis patients exist, I would like to ask the Minister if he could look at that option.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday I made a Member's statement about dialysis in the NWT. I would like to ask Minister of Health and Social Services some questions on that. I would like to know if the Minister could possibly commit to looking at providing accommodation in locations where individuals go for dialysis. At this point, I am thinking that the majority of the patients come to either Yellowknife, Hay River, or into Alberta to get their dialysis. Dialysis is something that happens three times a week for approximately four to five hours per session. The travel on top of that is a bit...

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I speak today about the passing of a well-known, respected artist named Arthur Beaulieu, who was known to everyone as "Archie."

"Archie was a humble man. He didn't care too much for luxury. He just lived a simple life. He was always smiling, laughing, and joking with those around him. He was an inspiration to a lot of youth. Archie was one to break the ground. His career, his fame, and financial success were an inspiration to future generations of Behchoko. Everything he did was for his family." Those kind words were expressed...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the chairman rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the mobile dialysis that the Minister spoke of also exists in Alberta. They have it set up on a bus. I know the Minister knows all this, but I would like to ask the Minister if he could at least look at that system that Alberta has, where they have retrofitted a bus in order to handle a dialysis machine or a couple of dialysis machines. I recognize that the cost is probably over $2 million, but I would like to ask the Minister if they would look at that and see what success Alberta has had with that system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ultimately no one, especially a sick and aging person, should face the options of either having to leave their home community for a life-dependent treatment or staying at home and dying. Our people should be given the opportunity to receive dialysis within their home communities, or at the very least closer than the centres of Yellowknife, Hay River, and Alberta. I strongly urge our government to examine mobile dialysis treatment centres in order to create better access for people who need it. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee would like to consider Committee Report 4-18(3), Report on Adult Residential Addictions Treatment Facilities Tour 2017. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about dialysis treatment in the Northwest Territories. For those who don't know, dialysis is a treatment that removes waste and fluids from blood for people whose kidneys have stopped working. People with kidney failure depend on regular dialysis treatment at least three times per week, and the process usually takes about four or five hours each time. While the process is a necessity for kidney disease patients, it is unfortunately not a treatment that is offered in remote communities. For the majority of dialysis patients in the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have nothing further on this page.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I wonder if the Minister could advise me, if the subscribing of the budget from the communities exceeds the money that is in the budget, if the department or the Minister would be willing to continue to take in applications for the program and fund it internally from elsewhere in the budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.