Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that the committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services at this time.

Yeah, okay, no, thanks for that information. I think given what we heard from the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on the changes to income assistance, I think we're probably going to see more demand for that service because people will need to have some proof that they have a disability. So are we prepared to handle more demand for that service over the next while? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks. Yeah, I guess I'm I don't know, I know it's late and I'm just trying to understand how we can only budget $19 million for medical travel benefits in 20232024 when we anticipate spending probably even more than $24 million. How does that work? Like, why wouldn't we just actually budget the expected amount and show a deficit maybe back on the revenue side or something. I just don't understand how we you know, we spend $24 million, but we're only budgeting 19 for this year when we know we're actually going to spend more. I just don't understand how that budgeting works. Thanks...

Okay. Well, look, I don't want to prolong this. Thanks, Madam Chair. I think there's actually a good number of people in the public that want to know how we can find efficiencies and ways of improving our expenditures and tracking and so on of health care costs. So I'll just leave that with the Minister and the department. I think they need to find a way to explain some of the good work that they are doing. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Okay, thanks. Maybe I'm just not getting this but how much then do we actually expect to spend on medical travel in 20232024 then? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Yeah. No, thanks, Madam Chair. And thanks for that explanation. Yeah, and I don't doubt that these people are not at I think they're very hard at work; that's great. But is there anywhere their work is kind of summarized or reported on, even at a high level, perhaps once a year? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I'm looking at page 210 and the medical travel benefits line. There's quite a drop between 20222023 and 20232024, probably in the neighbourhood of $5 million or, you know, it's like maybe 20 percent drop. Can I get an explanation as to why there's so much less money for medical travel in 20232024? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. And thanks for that. Yeah, I think the public would definitely be interested in that. Is that something that will happen in this upcoming year then, 20232024? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Okay, thanks. So there was a big review of home care services, and I think there were some, you know, policy level changes that were made. But are we actually increasing any money in the budget to help better support home care services? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I guess in the seven years I've been here, I've seen a lot of studies on the museum, you know, needs assessments and some really good work's been done. And there's a lot of money that needs to be spent to invest in the facility. So is there now an overall plan as to how to do some of that work? Thanks, Madam Chair. And could it be shared with Regular MLAs, even on a confidential basis if required. Thanks, Madam Chair.