The Member for Kam Lake.
The Member for Frame Lake.
Against.
The Member for Yellowknife North.
In favour.
The Member for Monfwi.
In favour.
The Member for Great Slave.
The Member for Nahendeh.
In favour.
The results of the recorded vote: 16 in favour, one opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is carried.
Carried
Bill 55 has had second reading.
Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 23, 29, Committee Report 3019(2), Committee Report 3119(2).
By the authority given to me as Speaker by Motion 119(2), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hours of adjournment to consider the business before the House, with Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.
I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Madame le President. The committee wishes to consider Committee Report 3119(2) and Committee Report 3019(2). Mahsi.
Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We will proceed with the first item.
Committee, we've agreed to consider Committee Report 3119(2), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 40, An Act to Amend the Medical Profession Act.
I will go to the chair of Standing Committee on Social Development for any opening comments. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee's report was read into the record on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022. Bill 40 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on November 26th, 2021, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.
Near the end of the Committee's 120day review period, the Government of the Northwest Territories' Department of Health and Social Services identified issues with the bill that could require substantial amendments.
On March 28, 2022, committee sought and received an extension for our review period and indicated that we were willing to work collaboratively with the Minister of Health and Social Services to make improvements to the bill.
On May 16, 2022, the standing committee was pleased to have a public hearing with Dr. Katherine Breen of the Northwest Territories Medical Association to hear their views on Bill 40 and on the work that had been done to improve the bill.
On May 19, 2022, the standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Health and Social Services and completed its clausebyclause review of the bill.
Ten motions were carried by the committee and concurred with by the Minister. The committee thanks the Minister and department for their hard work and collaboration to improve this bill.
Individual Members may have comments on the report, and I would like to thank committee for their dedicated work in seeing this bill through to today. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments on Committee Report 3119(2).
Seeing that there are no comments, MLA for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Minister of Health and Social Services engage the services of an independent body, such as other Colleges of Physicians, to develop standards of practice for physicians practicing in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining?
Carried
The motion is carried. MLA for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I MOVE that this committee recommends that The Government of the Northwest Territories work with the Northwest Territories Medical Association to ensure they have the ability to meaningfully participate when they are consulted on any proposed standards for physicians in the NWT. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining?
Carried
The motion is carried. MLA for Kam Lake.
Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Health and Social Services consult with the local physician leadership from the territorial physician executive to understand certification requirements, differential treatment of family physicians compared to other specialists, and the administration of conditional licenses. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
I will call a recess.
SHORT RECESS
I now call Committee of the Whole back to order. There was a fire alarm, and we thank you to the Yellowknife Fire Department for coming and making sure we're safe. And now we'll carry on. MLA for Kam Lake.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just to confirm, we are on Motion No. 4.
Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to the recommendations contained in this report within 120 days. Thank you, Madam Chair.
The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining?
Carried
The motion is carried.
Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Committee Report 3119(2), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 40, An Act to Amend the Medical Profession Act?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We have concluded consideration of Committee Report 3119(2), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 40, an Act to Amend the Medical Profession act.
Committee, we have agreed to consider Committee Report 3019(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 20202021 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. I'll go to the chair of that committee. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Information and Privacy Commissioner Committee Report was read into the record on Monday, May 30th, 2022. This is an annual report as both the Health Information Act and Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act require that the Information and Privacy Commissioner file an annual report.
I'd like to thank Mr. Andrew Fox, who appeared before committee on February 10th, 2022. He has stepped into that role after a long time Information and Privacy Commissioner, and he has done great work.
Committee has made a number of recommendations, which I will speak to, but I just wanted to point that I think this is truly a great committee report, and I encourage the Minister of Justice to review it and the GNWT to implement its recommendations.
The last legislature did a lot of great work, and we have one of the best ATIPP Acts in the country but it's become abundantly clear, as the number of complaints rise in this area, that implementation is really key to that act.
So individual Members may have comments on the report. I'd like to thank committee, Mr. Fox, and the department for their work in this area to date. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. I will now open the floor to general comments on Committee Report 3019(2), Standing Committee of Government Operations Report on the Review of the 20202021 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Seeing that there are no further comments, Mr. Johnson.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories, in consultation with the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and by April 1, 2023, establish a governmentwide policy that ensures all employees receive appropriate training on the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. The policy should ensure that new employees receive training early on and all employees receive regular refreshers.
