Midwifery in Canada - North West Territories

Report submitted September 2008

AGM
The Midwives Association of the NWT is planning its Annual General Meeting at the end of September 2008. Lesley Paulette continues to be the President. Heather Redshaw is the new NWT representative for CAM. The association has three full RM members.

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

In 2007 the Midwives Association of the NWT contracted with a Practice Auditor to undertake the Continuing Competency Program Audit for Registered Midwives in the NWT as it is required by the Midwifery Profession Act Regulations. The three registrants were audited in preparation for renewal of registration as midwives in the NWT, in accordance with the Continuing Competency Program for Registered Midwives approved by the Minster of Health and Social Services.

Current Events
The NWT is extremely proud that one of their three midwives will soon take on the role as the President of CAM. Gisela Becker, a registered midwife working in Ft Smith, has been Vice President of CAM for three years. Working with Gisela in Ft Smith is Lesley Paulette and together they provide maternity care for all childbearing families in that area through their program with the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority. A midwifery program has been established in Yellowknife with the recent certification and hiring of Heather Redshaw. She is working presently in a solo practice through the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority. The program has been well received by the community and the demand for midwifery services outnumbers the programs capacity at this point.

Contact Information
PO Box 995
Fort Smith, NT
X0E 0P0
Phone: 867-872-6253
Fax: 867-872-6279
Email: midwives@gov.nt.ca
Website: http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/english/services/professional_licensing/midwifery.htm