Debates of October 22, 2013 (day 36)
MEMBER’S STATEMENT ON DENTAL SERVICES IN SMALL COMMUNITIES
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak about this morning’s news. I was disturbed to hear about the state of dental problems in our children and in our communities. The dentist in the news this morning stood up and voiced his opinion on that, and I know a lot of it has to do with how it is still federally operated. I’m a bit confused and I will ask the Minister of Health questions on it later on.
With devolution, I thought we had all the responsibilities for health transferred over to us in 1988. According to the federal contract, we’re only allowed so many days per year per population of a dental visit, so a small community would have fewer treatment days. Also, the Finance Minister was going around our great Northwest Territories and asking for ways that we can look at how we can spend our resource revenues, and I submit that one of the ways we can take care of our people is by increasing dental visits and a dental awareness campaign.
Just with that, a couple of ideas out there, but firstly I’d like to speak with the Minister of Health and Social Services about how dental is being funded in our Northwest Territories. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.