Bill No. 141
- Respiratory Therapists Act.
MR. SPEAKER: The
honourable member for Sackville-Cobequid.
MR. DAVID WILSON
(Sackville-Cobequid): Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the
opportunity to stand for a moment to put on the
record a few comments on this bill. I hope that all
members recognize the importance for this piece of
legislation, not only to recognize the profession of
respiratory technologists in this province, but to
ensure the continuity of care is continued here in
our province.
I want to make sure
the government knows the importance of this piece of
legislation and ensuring it proceeds through the
process in a timely manner. Far too often, pieces of
legislation come through this process, go through
this House, but end up on the shelf. With this piece
of legislation, it's so important because of the
timeline. You know, the respiratory technologists of
this province have been asking government to bring
forward this legislation for years now. We only have
until the end of December of this year to ensure
that this legislation goes through and that the
needed regulations are created and in place by
December 31st of this year.
Mr. Speaker, I want
to make sure that the government recognizes that
this needs to happen and that they're done quickly,
but efficiently, and ensure that the respiratory
technologists in this province maintain their level
of registration and the protection to the residents
of this province who are served by the respiratory
technologists. So I'm glad to see this finally
coming through the process for third reading, but I
do warn government that they need to make sure that
regulations are in place by the end of this year.
With that, I thank you for this opportunity.
MR. SPEAKER: The
honourable Leader of the Liberal Party.
MR. MICHEL SAMSON:
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our Health Critic - the
member for Glace Bay - we, too, are certainly
supportive of Bill No. 141, the Respiratory
Therapists Act.
Mr. Speaker, in the
last number of years we've brought forward and
passed a number of pieces of legislation dealing
with different professions here in this province
that have been wanting to update their legislation
and many of them have their own stand-alone
legislation. We're certainly pleased to see that
this has been achieved with the Respiratory
Therapists Act. I would remind the government, as
well, that there are still a number of other
professions which have been for some time lobbying
government for legislation for self-governance here
in this province. I think of the dental hygienists
as one right off the bat that, unfortunately, still
hasn't been brought before this House. It's
something that I do hope that the government is
continuing to pursue in order to allow that
profession to have their own self-governing
legislation as well.
With that, Mr.
Speaker, we're pleased to see that this bill is
moving forward, but clearly there is some other
legislation that the government still has not
brought forward. We hope to see that possibly during
the Fall sitting of the House so that those
professions can have their profession legislated
here in the House as well. So with that, we
certainly will be supporting third reading of Bill
No. 141.
MR. SPEAKER: If I
recognize the minister it will be to close debate.
The honourable
Government House Leader.
HON. MICHAEL BAKER:
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the honourable
members for their interventions with respect to the
bill and on behalf of the Minister of Health, I
would like to move third reading of Bill No. 141.
MR. SPEAKER: The
motion is for third reading of Bill No. 141. Is the
House ready for the question? Would all those in
favour of the motion please say Aye. Contrary
minded, Nay.
The motion is
carried.
Ordered that the
bill do pass. Ordered that the title be as read by
the Clerk. Ordered that the bill be engrossed"