Mr. Speaker, as we are all aware, there are a number of issues which impact on our ability as a territory to attract and retain physicians for our communities. There is competition for doctors’ services both at the national and international levels. This means we have to be realistic in wages that we pay doctors and offer the same incentives and inducements that other jurisdictions provide.
For the most part we are competitive. We can promote the positive lifestyle and virtues of living in smaller communities all we want, but if doctors can easily make more money in another jurisdiction, we will lose them. This is what is happening right now because of the legislative gap, and it is impacting on our ability to attract and retain doctors to actually live in the North.
Because doctors can incorporate as a professional corporation in other Canadian jurisdictions, they are taxed at a lower rate and can make significantly more money. For example, if a doctor was professionally incorporated in British Columbia and making a good living, why would they take a pay cut to come to the Northwest Territories?
I’ve also heard that there are locums, which are doctors that we pay to fill in when there is a short-term need, that would consider moving north if there were the ability to professionally incorporate. Using locums to fill doctor positions is a costly way of meeting the health care needs of Northerners.
I understand that this inability to professionally incorporate also impacts other professions, like lawyers and accountants, and is actually discouraging people from moving north and setting up practices.
Mr. Speaker, we need to move on this before we lose any more doctors. We need a legislative regime that encourages professionals to move or return north and put down their roots in our communities. We need a professional corporations act.
Later today I will have questions for the Minister of Justice about what we can do to respond to this need in a timely manner. This is something that has just this past week affected Hay River, and it is something of very critical importance.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members’ statements, the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
