Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to hear that we do offer the best service and one of the best facilities to provide for our elders that do have to end up in long-term care facilities, Mr. Speaker, but I still don’t understand why we have a treaty right and our aboriginal elders are having to pay for it. If the Minister could comment on that again, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. I am very concerned about a problem an elder in my constituency is having with the health care system; more particularly with the long-term home care in Fort Simpson.

He was recently informed that he now owes approximately $4,000 as rent for staying in the long-term care facility. Setting that aside for now, the question for the Minister, Mr. Speaker, is why is an aboriginal elder paying to stay in a long-term care facility? Is this truly a policy of our health care system today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate three long-term employees of Enbridge Pipelines NWT Ltd. It gives me great pleasure to recognize them publicly for 20 years of service. These individuals are Mr. Mark Gerlock, Mr. Steven Vandell, and Mr. Frank Villeneuve of Fort Simpson, NWT; gentlemen all.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 2004-2005. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just the fact that, here again, there is an inconsistency where some seniors or elders that do have the benefit of insurance to cover their stay in these homes, and now we have aboriginal elders who depend solely on fixed income of their old age pensions and we are taking almost all of it away. I would just like to get that commitment again from the Minister that he will closely review this policy of ours and address it as soon as possible. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My concern is that the maximum amount is $700. It is approximately equivalent to what they receive in old age pension, Mr. Speaker. My thought on this is that this is pretty much their last stop on earth. I was just wondering why we are charging our elders to sit out their remaining life. Particularly, for me, I believe that what is going on here is a treaty right. I am just wondering if the Minister cares to respond with regard to that. Why are we offering a service when it should be classified as a treaty right?