Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 40, an Act to Amend the Medical Profession Act, be read for the second time.
This bill amends the Medical Profession Act to allow a medical practitioner regulated in another province or territory to provide virtual care to patients in the Northwest Territories from a location outside the Northwest Territories. This may happen in the following ways:
An outofterritory practitioner may apply for registration in the virtual care register and be issued a virtual care permit;
An outofterritory practitioner may practice under a limited exception where they have received a referral from the NWT;
An outofterritory practitioner may practice under an agreement between the Minister and either the government or the regulatory of their home jurisdiction.
The bill makes the associated necessary changes to the act to facilitate these new methods of practice. The bill also adds a regulationmaking authority to authorize the establishment or adoption of standards, practice, code of ethics, continuing competency programs, and scope of practice frameworks and guidelines. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe this is a number of things the department is doing to provide further virtual care to our residents. I just want to thank the Minister for bringing this forward.
During COVID, we made many steps in this direction, and now there seems to be a bit of a catchup to change some of the regulations, adopt the software, and really be a leader in this area. So I will gladly support this bill on second reading.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. To the principle of the bill.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. Any abstentions. The motion is carried. Bill 40 has had second reading and is referred to a committee.
Carried
Colleagues, before I put you into Committee of the Whole, I'd like to wish the Member for Thebacha a Happy Birthday for tomorrow and invite you all to join me in the Great Hall for a small celebration. Happy birthday.
