Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll get the information update on when this particular round of standing offer agreements ends. As I said, I think we must be open to look at alternatives to ensure that medical travel remains as supportable as possible, but that we're not adversely affecting other airlines or the existing airlines in any negative ways. I think we have to look at the market, for sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have decided people don't need drugs anymore.

---Laughter

I am just kidding. Bottom line is it is a procurement consolidation as a result of moving to a single authority. We were able to purchase together as opposed to purchasing in part. We recognize some cost savings by doing so. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think to understand the increases and decreases you have to go through each line because there are offsets, there are sunsets, there are reductions, there's forced growth. There are a number of things that are included in this. What I can say about the Tlicho is there are a number of beds being opened in the Jimmy Erasmus Long-Term Care Home, but the same is true in the Sahtu which is in the larger number, even though the larger number appears to be growing at a slower rate. If you factor in the sunsets and the forced growth and then the additional positions and all...

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the Member's position. I will say that we have taken her position a number of months ago when this first came up, we have made changes within, we have got the report done, but waiting for the report we didn't stop and do no work. We did increase the number of assessors and we have moved forward to increase the number of assessments. We have been able to fund from within to this point, which we're prepared to keep doing as we move forward to get rid of some of the backlog.

What I'm indicating to the Member, and I hope I'm clear, is that as we've done this...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I know we have standing offer agreements with airlines like Canadian North and First Air, whichever is the cheapest and the most appropriate for the time. So in Hay River the individuals would fly up on First Air and then if they need to go to Edmonton they would fly out on either First Air or Canadian North, whichever is cheaper. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it is across a number of the different regional offices as part of the NWT Health and Social Services Authority, as well as Hay River and the TCSA, whenever we happen to have a diagnostic services lab, imaging, those types of things. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to be clear, no decision has been made on this at all. We're just exploring opportunities, and I mean absolutely I think this is a big deal. It could be perceived as two-tier healthcare, which we don’t want to create, but we have to make sure that remains affordable. So this is absolutely something that I would have a discussion with the social committee before finalizing or moving forward.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is something that we're committed to, and I'm happy to say we've actually had some success in this area. Success that even I didn't actually anticipate that we would see this quickly. Although Hay River is technically not in the Health Authority because of the issues that have been discussed already, through memorandums of understanding and agreement we are acting and they are partnering as if they are.

One of the benefits we had out of that is, although K'atlodeeche was traditionally in the Deh Cho as far as health services, Hay River has been working really...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are not working at it that way. We are looking at where the priority lies. We need to get the issues done in Yellowknife, because that is where the greatest demand is. The next greatest demand is in Inuvik, and then Hay River and Fort Simpson are about the same. Ultimately, our goal is to have those facilities open and in operation during the year of 2026 or sooner, but, obviously, we need to start rolling these out quicker. Yellowknife Avens is an opportunity that we think we might be able to move on quicker, depending on the results of the business plan.

Then...

I'm pretty sure that's a new rule, Mr. Chair, but I'll do my best. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I hear the Members loud and clear, and there are definitely a couple of recurrent themes in there. Earlier this year the Minister of Finance and I had an opportunity to meet with the Member from Kam Lake and the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh to discuss budgets and try to negotiate our way forward. At that time we clearly articulated that we agree with committee 100 per cent. The areas of homecare, mental health and addictions, and poverty are areas that we want to invest in. We believe...