Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Minister Lee.

Thank you, Minister. Further questions? Page 6-12, Revenue Summary, information item.

Department of Health and Social Services, Department Summary, Revenue Summary, approved.

Minister Lee.

I’m wondering where we’re at in negotiations with the Government of Canada or DIAND to recapture those dollars and the accumulated debt. Also, does it show up here in the book somewhere?

Minister Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is that the Government of Canada has a fiduciary and legal role to provide health care services for aboriginal people in Canada, including the Northwest Territories, but that there is an agreement for this department to cover those services in the Northwest Territories.

I understand that the federal government compensates the department with about a 3 per cent annual growth for increasing costs, but we’ve been experiencing something like a 7.8 per cent, or thereabouts, average increase in annual costs. I’m wondering, if I’ve got that right: what is our...

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. A motion is on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and is non-debatable.

Motion carried.

Moving on, 6-18, Program Delivery Support, Activity Description. Mr. Hawkins.

But I really do appreciate the Minister’s comments and agree that some real innovation is needed in finding ways to protect our northern businesses. Thanks for that. I really appreciate that and encourage that.

Will the Minister include some of the ramifications of things like NAFTA — North American Free Trade Agreement — that’s been mentioned by my colleague Mr. Krutko, and the obligations we become vulnerable to when we lose these things that are forgiven because of grandfathering and so on? I’m asking for a very eyes-open approach to this. It sounds like there is a tendency to do that with...

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Cummings.