Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A single organ donor can save up to eight lives and their tissue can help up to 50 people. This is why today I wish to talk about organ donation in the NWT.
With more than 4,800 Canadians on the wait list for organ transplants, supply cannot meet current demand. It is with this in mind that my remaining time as Member of the 17th Assembly will be dedicated to the modernization of our outdated Human Tissue Act.
It goes without saying that this journey does not start with me but will be the continuance of many Members before me, such as MLA Tony Whitford, who in 1994 tried to persuade Transportation Minister John Todd, who replied, “It is impractical.” Then it was my colleague MLA Jane Groenewegen in 1998 with Minister Kelvin Ng with the response of, “We’re looking into the possibility of including an organ donation on the back of NWT health cards.” Of course, this never happened. In 2001 MLA Charles Dent raised the issue again with then Health Minister Michael Miltenberger, who announced a task force on organ and tissue donation. It was to be reported back in the House in August 2002. Unfortunately, there is no copy of this press release, nor is the Department of Health and Social Services able to provide a copy of this task force report or action plan. Finally, in 2009 my other colleague MLA Robert Hawkins raised the issue with Health Minister Sandy Lee with a waiver reply of, “Our organ donors or transplants are done in southern jurisdictions.” My sincere thanks and admiration goes out to these former and current legislative Members for shining a light on organ and tissue donation in the NWT.
Where do we go from here? For starters, I believe we need to review the options for starting an organ donor registry in the Northwest Territories. We need to define ways for NWT residents to become actively involved in organ and tissue donation, and develop a long-term plan to improve NWT participation in the donation process. Admittedly, we need to make sure all Northerners, no matter where they live, have the ability to participate in helping others who are in need. Furthermore, we need to consider ways for NWT residents to use space on their NWT health care cards or driver’s licence to allow for the facilitative organ donation. Finally, we need a firm commitment from every Member of the 17th Legislative Assembly to support this initiative.
Therefore, I stand before you today as a humble servant of this House, as an elected representative for the riding of Range Lake, and I ask my colleagues here today: Will you support me on this quest?
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
