Midwifery in Canada - North West Territories

Report submitted September 2007

AGM
The Midwives Association of the NWT is planning its Annual General Meeting later this fall. Lesley Paulette, RM continues to be the President.

Bylaw Changes
The Midwives Association of the NWT has completed its bylaw revisions that reflect membership categories of a regulated jurisdiction; and the division of the NWT and Nunavut.

Initiatives and Committees
The Midwives Association of the NWT is represented on the NWT Perinatal Committee, the Midwifery Implementation Committee and one Registered Midwife is a member of the Territorial Credentialing Committee. The association is also represented on the territorial ISDM (Integrated Service Delivery Model) working group.

Current Events
The NWT continues to have three registered midwives, Lesley Paulette, Wendy Baker and Gisela Becker. Heather Redshaw, a midwife from Yellowknife will soon be registered in the NWT. The Midwifery Program of the Fort Smith Health & Social Services Authority, still the only one in the NWT, continues to expand; and provides now maternity care to almost all childbearing families in the community of Fort Smith. The Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority has not been successful yet in establishing a midwifery program; however plans exist to launch the program in the near future. Inuvik in the Beaufort-Delta has one funded midwifery position; though a program has not been introduced at this time. Other regions, such as Fort Simpson continue to indicate their interest in midwifery services; but no concrete steps have been taking to implement services.

Contact Information
P.O. Box 995
Fort Smith, NT
X0E 0P0
Phone: 867-872-6253
Fax: 867-872-5516
Email: Midwives.nwt.nu@auroranet.nt.ca