Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the chief medical health officer provide any type of public education on any of the issues that they oversee? That question would be directed to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, a large part of what the public health officer does is to advise, inform and communicate to the residents about public health issues. She has communicated information in the past. I’ve had inquiries about pros and cons of fluoride from our residents and the public health officer has communicated to that. She has also indicated to me that she is willing to talk to anybody who wants to have more information about concerns about fluoride. I can tell the Member that she communicates also through websites and other means. Mr. Speaker, that is part of her job. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister advise the House specifically what does the chief medical health officer advise the public by way of details to levels of fluoridation as well as the context of the pros and cons and, therefore, we have an informed public, I believe, both in Inuvik, Fort Smith and Yellowknife? Thank you.
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.
I wasn’t sure if that was a confirmation that the Minister will follow that up or if that was a clarification. Mr. Speaker, I’ll ask again, would the Minister be willing to commit to ensure that the chief medical health officer does provide some type of public information and ensure that it’s publicly available so people understand the pros and cons of fluoridation and they are clear as to where they are by community and what levels they are being managed at? Thank you.
I will undertake to get the information from the public health officer about the level of communication she has with the communities that use fluoridation in their water.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a concern of many of my constituents, especially in the sense that Calgary has recently dealt with this particular issue and I think has drawn it back into the public spotlight. Will the Minister ensure that that information is on the Health and Social Services website as soon as possible so that way the average, everyday citizen has this accessible rather than it buried down into some fine line somewhere in the department where it becomes counterproductive? Thank you.
Yes, the department and the CPHO and other people involved with the department use the website for lots of information dissemination, so I’d be happy to undertake to do that. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The time for question period has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bill and other matters: Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project; Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits; Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits – What We Heard; Tabled Document 62-16(5), Northwest Territories Water Stewardship Strategy; Tabled Document 75-16(5), Response to the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project on the Federal and Territorial Governments’ Interim Response to “Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future”; Tabled Document 103-16(5), GNWT Contracts Over $5,000 Report, Year Ending March 31, 2010; Tabled Document 133-16(5), NWT Main Estimates 2011-2012; Tabled Document 135-16(5), Response to the Standing Committee on Social Programs Report on the Review of the Child and Family Services Act; Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act; Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Conflict of Interest Act; Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act; Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Evidence Act; Minister’s Statement 65-16(5), Devolution Agreement-in-Principle, Impact on Land Claims and Protection of Aboriginal Rights; Minister’s Statement 88-16(5), Sessional Statement, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.
