Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Worldwide the Human Papillomavirus, or commonly known as HPV, is a common sexually transmitted disease. I could go on at length, but it’s not necessary today, regarding how many problems Northerners have with sexually transmitted diseases and the fact that it is a real problem here. It is a problem whether you live in a large or small community, so we must do whatever we can.
In short, when was this program for vaccination rolled out? The NWT was one of the last jurisdictions. It would have been the last if we didn’t have Nunavut behind us, to finally implement this back in 2009.
It was only implemented for girls. I am going to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services: Do young men matter when it comes to the HPV vaccination, and when will they get their opportunity to have this much needed vaccination to help protect their health? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To answer the first question, all people matter, as far as health and social services go. I don’t know when and if young men are going to get a needle for this virus. I don’t have the information here, so I couldn’t give him a date, or if, in fact, it is going to happen at all. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I am elated to hear the fact that all people matter, according to the Minister, but I would like to hear when young men will matter in this particular case.
What can the Minister commit to today on clarifying this huge error for a huge percentage of our population? Young boys matter, as far as I’m concerned. Young men matter, and everyone. These kids matter.
What is the Health Minister willing to do today to show that they matter to the families out there thinking that this is a much needed vaccination? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I’m prepared to have the department check with the physicians that make a decision on which individual groups should be getting a certain type of shot for certain types of viruses. If young men or young boys are not getting the shot for the virus due to an oversight on the part of the department, then we will give them shots too. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In his inquiry, if he finds out it is a clerical issue or it’s a money issue, will he issue a directive from his office to ensure that this process starts right away? I am being contacted by families who are concerned that their young boys, their children are being left out of this process. Again, a much needed vaccination that is accepted across Canada, why not in the Northwest Territories?
Mr. Speaker, yes. If it was a money decision and it was thought that we should only give young ladies or young girls the antidote or virus needle, as opposed to ignoring the boys, or if it was a clerical error and then we forgot the other gender, then we will correct that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Mr. Speaker, for my final question of the day on this HPV vaccination, I want to make sure it is absolutely crystal clear in this House today that the Minister is saying he is going to see if he can correct it. He says he is going to see if he can fix this process to ensure that they are fairly covered.
I want to make sure it is clear before this House and certainly clear for the people of the Northwest Territories. If this is not the case, I would like the Minister to clarify this in the House through a Minister’s statement, explaining why these young men will not be getting the vaccination. For these parents who are concerned that their children aren’t getting it, the Minister is the one who will account for it, not the MLAs going to explain to parents why the Department of Health can’t do it. I want the Minister to account for it. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, whether I make a Minister’s statement on this vaccination or not would be determined within Cabinet. We do have a certain amount of Ministers’ statements that we would like to present in the House for providing information. If I’m not able to do the Minister’s statement, I would be pleased to provide it in writing to the Member or to the House. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
