Debates of June 11, 2024 (day 25)
Question 280-20(1): Applying for a Name Change
![Member Kate Reid](/sites/default/files/styles/3_4_portrait_profile/public/legacy/kate_reid.jpg?h=f194bbb9&itok=Mw9bzA_b)
I don't have a lake. I mean, even though I'm named after a lake. Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, thank you. Would the health Minister commit to updating public facing communications around whether a person needs to call the registrar before or after applying a name change in order to avoid being dead named in the NWT because thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Got that right this time. Minister of Health and Social Services.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/3_4_portrait_profile/public/legacy/lesa_semmler.jpg?h=42cdef1b&itok=xA8Q7NnI)
Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are committed to doing that.
![Member Kate Reid](/sites/default/files/styles/3_4_portrait_profile/public/legacy/kate_reid.jpg?h=f194bbb9&itok=Mw9bzA_b)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that yes from the Minister. I also want to thank the Minister for her commitment that the form will be changed and reviewed, hopefully changed but definitely reviewed. But can I get confirmation from the Minister that a genderbased analysis will be done during the review of the form to consider intersectional factors that may increase barriers for transgender or other gender identities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm very much in favour on completing the genderbased analysis. At this time, the majority of the health forms have been completed, including an identification of steps needed to make the health forms more gender inclusive. And we are near the completion of this, and the new health information system, the department will finalize its review of the needed revisions to the health forms and the legislation that needs (audio).
![Member Kate Reid](/sites/default/files/styles/3_4_portrait_profile/public/legacy/kate_reid.jpg?h=f194bbb9&itok=Mw9bzA_b)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm going to take that as a strong maybe.
Mr. Speaker, the application form for an NWT health care card also only presents a gender binary. Can the Minister commit to, in conjunction with her Cabinet colleagues, disclosing which GNWT forms are bound by legislation or regulation to include sex or gender in a binary fashion so that they can also be changed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I cannot commit every department, but what I can commit is providing the Member with a list of the health legislation where the forms that are included in the legislation that aren't inclusive and that we will, you know, as we're looking at a lot of the legislation and making sure that we're reviewing those. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Great Slave.
![Member Kate Reid](/sites/default/files/styles/3_4_portrait_profile/public/legacy/kate_reid.jpg?h=f194bbb9&itok=Mw9bzA_b)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Cabinet can expect a bunch of BFs.
Mr. Speaker, having to correct your gender to multiple locums on an ongoing basis can be demoralizing. Can the Minister speak to further changes that can be made to electronic medical record systems and patient charting so to be as more inclusive of gender diverse folks? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Member, you know, the demoralizing for the folks that have to go through this. And yes, we do see a lot of locums and, unfortunately, at this time that is not possible in our electronic medical records to, other than the male/female genders. But the requirements that are going to be the things that we are working toward in the new EMR will include that like, for the system to be able to do that. But, and, you know, thank you that we've had these discussions between the Minister and the Member is that knowing that I've worked in the systems and, you know, there are other things within our EMR that can help to identify. So in the meantime, we can work with the authorities to find a way for our current electronic medical records have like an alert or some sort that can they may have to identify, but I can't guarantee that this will be across board as it is a temporary fix until we get a new EMR. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.