Latest news with #PharmacyProfessionAct
Hamilton Spectator
7 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Bona fide' changes to Nunavut law as legislature sitting wraps up
A modernization of Nunavut's pharmacy profession laws was one of five bills approved as the Nunavut legislative assembly's spring sitting came to a close Tuesday. MLAs met in Iqaluit for nine days for the second-last sitting before Nunavummiut head to the polls in the Oct. 27 territorial election. Commissioner Eva Aariak presided over the assent ceremony to sign the bills they passed into law. The Pharmacy Profession Act is what Health Minister John Main has described as an 'modernization' of Nunavut's pharmacy laws. It allows Nunavut pharmacists to administer vaccines and prescribe treatments for minor illnesses. It also establishes a pharmacist registration system, and outlines a complaints and disciplinary process, among other provisions. A supplementary appropriations bill adds $4.2 million in capital budget spending across the territory's departments of justice, family services, and executive and intergovernmental affairs for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. The capital budget for the current fiscal year, which totals more than $350 million, was originally tabled in October during the fall sitting. Another bill replaces Latin text with plain language across several territorial laws, such as 'bona fide' with 'good faith' in acts such as the Business Corporations Act and Conflict of Interest Act, and 'ex parte' with 'without notice' in several acts. A lengthy bill that outlines regulations of early learning and child care centres in Nunavut was approved and received assent after it was initially tabled in the winter sitting. Finally, MLAs passed a bill that adjusts which documents are published in the Nunavut Gazette. For example, notices of incorporations will now be published 'on a website maintained by or for the registrar' instead of in the Nunavut Gazette. Some bills didn't pass this assembly. Notably, a proposed amendment to the Vital Statistics Act would have added a non-binary sex option on birth certificates. That would have allowed people who do not identify as male or female to change their birth certificates to that third sex option if they chose to do so. Main said he was hoping the bill would pass this sitting because June is Pride Month. 'Support for gender-diverse individuals, it's very sensitive and it actually is connected to our work on suicide prevention,' Main told reporters last week. 'Individuals who are gender-diverse and are not adequately supported can be at risk of adverse mental health outcomes including suicide attempts or suicide.' However, that bill and two others tabled this sitting await review from the standing committee on legislation. Along with the signing of bills, MLAs offered their parting messages. Notably, Minister David Akeeagok gave early notice that he won't seek re-election this fall as the MLA for Quttiktuk. He wants prospective candidates to start talking with their families about possibly replacing him. Other statements from MLAs Tuesday included celebrations of high school graduates, tributes to individual family and community members, and talk of fishing derbies. Speaker Tony Akoak thanked legislative staff and the chamber's Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun interpreters for their work. 'We have had a very good, productive couple of weeks of meetings in the house,' he said. 'Have a safe journey home.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
29-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Nunavut legislature approves law allowing pharmacists to give vaccines
Within the next 18 months, Nunavummiut may be able to see a pharmacist for vaccinations and treatments for minor illnesses. The Pharmacy Profession Act passed third reading Tuesday in the Nunavut legislative assembly. It awaits assent before it becomes law. The bill is 'a comprehensive modernization of Nunavut's pharmacy legislation,' Health Minister John Main told the committee of the whole Tuesday, before the bill was voted on. 'Traditionally, pharmacists focused on dispensing medications and providing basic drug information,' he said. 'Today, their role has expanded to include a broader range of clinical services, such as administering vaccines and supporting chronic disease management.' Main said the need to modernize Nunavut's pharmacy laws came to a head during the COVID-19 pandemic. While Nunavummiut were rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated, the Department of Health was legally unable to employ pharmacists to administer shots – something pharmacists in other jurisdictions, such as Ontario, were able to do. Examples of some of the minor ailments someone could see a pharmacist for in the future include skin conditions and urinary tract infections, Main said. In addition to expanding what pharmacists can treat, the bill establishes a pharmacist registration committee, outlines a complaints and discipline process, and allows for pharmacists to provide remote care to people in communities without a pharmacy. 'Right now, our legislation doesn't properly support remote dispensing or tele-services, but that's something that in the new bill is properly laid out and supported,' he said. The bill becomes law once it receives assent from Nunavut Commissioner Eva Aariak, which usually happens on the final day of sitting. After that, more work will be needed to draft regulations, which Main estimated would take a year to a year and a half roll out. That work will include educating pharmacists, pharmacist technicians and their employers. Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster, Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA and co-chair of the standing committee on legislation, told the committee the new legislation will 'improve the territory's health-care delivery system as a whole.' Tyler Gogo, spokesperson for the Canadian Pharmacists Association, agrees. 'This legislation is a significant step forward and will help to modernize pharmacy care in the territory, bringing it closer in line to other jurisdictions in Canada,' he said in an email. 'By allowing pharmacists to work to their full potential across Canada, pharmacists can provide the care they are trained and trusted to deliver.'
