Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Cummings. I’d like to move on now to Mr. Hawkins.

Page 6-15, Operations Expenditures Summary, votable activity: $6.780 million. Questions? All agreed?

Department of Health and Social Services, Activity Summary, Directorate, Operations Expenditure Summary: $6.780 million, approved.

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.

I understand that you'll get me the information on how many units we have land secured for this year out of 174. Are things looking better for next year, and do we see an end to this issue in the near future? Or is this going to be an ongoing situation?