Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 20th, 2018

[Dr. Cyd Courchesne]

Right, every doctor in Canada can give authorizations. If you have an MD or if you're a nurse practitioner with that scope of practice in your province, you can provide that, so the list would be very—

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

It's a question of how many, I guess. That's what I'm asking. How many are authorizing at this point?

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

We'll have to come back for that answer. We're out of time.

[Dr. Cyd Courchesne]

Absolutely.

[The Chair, Liberal, Neil Ellis]

We'll end with Mr. Samson. I think you're splitting your four minutes.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Yes, I have two quick questions. In talking about specialists, in Nova Scotia we don't have a specialist who can authorize or who does authorize—zero. We've asked VAC to help us out now for two years and we haven't had any success.

[Dr. Cyd Courchesne]

Well, any specialist can authorize.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

There's no specialist in Nova Scotia who's able.... There's only one and he doesn't authorize.

[Dr. Alexandra Heber]

Again, as a physician—

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

I'm talking about 10 grams over three grams, specialists.

[Dr. Alexandra Heber]

Yes, so what you're asking of a physician is to authorize something for a patient, and there's no evidence of what it does—

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

That's not my question, Doctor.

[Dr. Alexandra Heber]

If it's for a mental health problem, any psychiatrist can authorize over three grams for a veteran.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

There's no one in Nova Scotia who authorizes.

[Dr. Alexandra Heber]

Well, they may not do it, but what I'm saying is that they can.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Yes, but VAC, are you helping to find doctors who do?

[Dr. Alexandra Heber]

No.

[Dr. Cyd Courchesne]

Our policy is to reimburse. My main concern is the well-being and the safety of the veterans.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Of course.

[Dr. Cyd Courchesne]

When there is a substance that has no proven effect—

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Doctors, with all due respect, that's not my question. The question is: Is there a process for receiving more than three grams?

[Dr. Cyd Courchesne]

Yes.

[Dr. Alexandra Heber]

Yes.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

That process is not available in Nova Scotia.

[Dr. Cyd Courchesne]

It is. The specialists are not willing, because there is no evidence. They're not willing to provide that authorization to their patients, because their concern is for the well-being of their patients. I cannot force—