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ORDERS OF THE DAY -- Continued
No. 133 -- Thursday, January 21, 1999 -- 10 a.m.

Schedule B

WRITTEN QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

  1   Ms. Reid to ask the Hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs the following question--

The Report on the Quality of Condominium Construction in British Columbia is due May 29, 1998. Has an extension been granted to the Commissioner for completion of the Report?

  2   Ms. Reid to ask the Hon. the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors the following questions--

(a) Since Aricept (donepezil) is the only medication approved for the treatment of dementia of the Alzheimer's type, and is currently approved in more than 25 countries, how is it that the Therapeutics Initiative is able to conclude that Aricept is not effective?

(b) Have the same standards used by the Ministry to assess AIDS and Cancer drugs also been applied to Aricept?

(c) Given that the Department of Psychiatry at St. Vincent's Hospital has been one of the pioneers in Canada for the research and treatment of dementia, why is it that the input of Dr. Raymond Ancill and his colleagues was not sought in determining whether or not Aricept would be reimbursed?

(d) Given that frail elderly residential care patients are now at risk will the Minister review the recent Pharmacare decision to no longer reimburse for laxatives under Schedule B, and reverse this ill advised policy?

  3   Mr. Thorpe to ask the Hon. the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors the following questions--

1. What is the Government's current action plan to deal with the critical issue of autism in British Columbia? Will the Ministry be endorsing and approving Lovaas Treatment for Autism? If so, when? If not, why not?

2. A court decision in Alberta stated the Lovaas Autism treatment is "The responsibility of the state." Will the Government act on this case? Or is the Government waiting for the Courts of British Columbia to pass judgement before taking action?

3. Has the Ministry completed any studies with respect to current costs incurred over the life of an autistic child versus effective early intervention using the Lovaas treatment? If a study has been completed will it be tabled or made public? In the absence of a study, when will a study be commissioned?

4. Would the Minister please advise as to why there are no broadly based diagnostic services covered by the Medical Services Plan? Could the Minister please advise what she and her Government are doing to aggressively pursue the growing waitlists for a diagnosis of autism (waiting lists are up to 24 months)?

  4   Mr. Coleman to ask the Hon. the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors the following questions--

1. What is the Government's current action plan to deal with the critical issue of autism in British Columbia? Will the Ministry be endorsing and approving Lovaas Treatment for Autism? If so, when? If not, why not?

2. A court decision in Alberta stated the Lovaas Autism treatment is "The responsibility of the state." Will the Government act on this case? Or is the Government waiting for the Courts of British Columbia to pass judgement before taking action?

3. Has the Ministry completed any studies with respect to current costs incurred over the life of an autistic child versus effective early intervention using the Lovaas treatment? If a study has been completed will it be tabled or made public? In the absence of a study, when will a study be commissioned?

4. Would the Minister please advise as to why there are no broadly based diagnostic services covered by the Medical Services Plan? Could the Minister please advise what she and her Government are doing to aggressively pursue the growing waitlists for a diagnosis of autism (waiting lists are up to 24 months)?

  5   Ms. Reid to ask the Hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs the following question--

Will the Minister of Municipal Affairs act on recommendations #79 and #80 of the Barrett Commission which requests a seven percent provincial sales tax rebate and/or exemption on the cost of repairs for owners of leaky condominiums?

  6   Ms. Reid to ask the Hon. the Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors the following questions--

1. As it pertains to Bill (No. 22) intituled the Mental Health Amendment Act, 1998 how many people are currently on extended leave from mental health facilities?

2. How many more people are anticipated to rate "extended leave" from mental health facilities?

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