Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's related to my Member's statement on dentists within the Mackenzie Delta region. The high volume of patients from the Beaufort Delta region having to travel to Yellowknife to see the dentist in one or two days. Will the Minister or is the Minister looking at contracting a dental team to visit the Beaufort Delta region periodically until a permanent solution can be found? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mackenzie Delta. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the RFP for dental services to the communities was put out. There was no submissions. And so we are continuing to work with the facility out of Inuvik as we can, and I can be I can let the Member know that on March 12th or 13th to March 19th, Fort McPherson will be getting the dental for his community. Unfortunately, Aklavik and Tsiigehtchic, there are pending equipment repairs. So those communities are still pending for dentists' visits.
Okay, I'd like to thank the Minister for that response. I think I should have clarified my question a little further.
In terms of trying to get all the patients or the referrals seen by the dentist, you know, having a team go travel to Inuvik where the surrounding communities around the Beaufort Delta can go into the communities, that's what I was referring to if the Minister has any indication to get somebody to Inuvik? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, if I just if I may, dental treatment services are not insured services provided by health and social services. This is not something that we receive federal transfers on. What we do is we are funded through noninsured health benefits to provide the travel to private dental clinics which the clinic in Inuvik is a private dental clinic. Unfortunately, nobody has bid on any of those RFPs to travel. There are many reasons, and we are working with Indigenous Service Canada to rectify a lot of those reasons. You know, we've had discussions with Indigenous governments on all of the issues. Dental services in the Northwest Territories, the core, or the skeleton as I might put it, is NIHB. Like, that is who funds all of that travel for private clinics who are that's who provides services, dental services, throughout Canada. This is not just in the Northwest Territories. So I just want to make sure that the public and the Members know that, you know, we are working. My staff, you know, we're currently working on a contract on a new renewed contract for NIHB with ISC, Indigenous Service Canada, and that there's ongoing discussions especially related to dental. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
