Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This issue has had some discussion in many forms. As a government, we look at all the options and try to control our costs. To continue to deliver a program or programs for the federal government that we are losing money on, for example, the program for Indian Affairs we’ve spent $8.5 million more than we’re going to get back last year, so the amount that we’re losing is growing, that it’s not a sustainable kind of process and can we legitimately expect ourselves as a territory and our constituents to tighten their belts and have other programs cut because the federal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are two main program areas that we administer programs on behalf of the federal government: the non-insured health benefits component, which is about $5.9 million a year, recently up to about $7.3 million or $7.4 million; and the big ticket item for us under DIAND is the health services to Indian and Inuit people. That’s one where we’ve been running an annual deficit, which is about $22 million. So we have had some relief from the federal government. They’ve acknowledged under NIHB that it is under-funded, so we have a commitment from them to up the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. This is an issue that has to be moved to as many tables as possible. That is, in fact, what we are in the process of doing. As I indicated and the Premier has indicated in this House, health issues like this one are on our agenda. The role of the federal government, their lack of response, the fact that they only fund 16 percent down from I think it’s 18, way down from the 25 recommended by Romanow. We’ve talked about this with our territorial colleagues. We’ve met with the former Minister of Health collectively. The new Minister of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a court case initiated in the past that got the federal government to the table and had some basic changes made. Since that time things have once again accumulated and we have, for example with the non-insured health benefits, the lack of recognition on the federal government’s part in terms of things like dental days, obsolete rates that they refuse to modernize, reflection of cost-of-living increases, population growth. There’s a whole number of fundamental issues that we constantly argue and debate with the federal government about and they’re...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as my colleague knows, having been in the 13th and 14th assemblies, especially with division, when you make two out of one you never do it for the same costs. The more administration and the more different program areas or delivery mechanisms we create, the greater the costs that take away from the ability to deliver the program. The issue for us, the fundamental issue is that we are delivering programs on behalf of the federal government that are under funded that they refuse to acknowledge. We had some small relief with the non-insured health benefits...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the staff level we have almost around-the-clock, year-round processes and tables going with the federal government. It also, as the Premier has indicated, is an issue of national significance. Minister Pettigrew was up here a couple of months ago. The issue of health was raised with him. We’ve suggested things like it would make sense to take DIAND health programs and put them under Health Canada where they belong, where they can be administered with some consistency and with some possible greater efficiencies. We’ve successfully negotiated and got the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, human resources offers cross-cultural training, as does the college. But as a department, we don't have a formal policy that directs cross-cultural training being a requirement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member has raised a point that identifies a gap and it's not necessarily one that's going to cost a lot of money, but is more a point of providing the appropriate services the best way we can. Yes, I will raise this issue with the authorities and the department, and we will look at ways that we can get more organized in a formal, ongoing way in the area of cross-cultural training. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some constituents and some others in the gallery. I would like to recognize Mr. Jack Poitras, the superintendent for MACA; Ms. Cec Heron from the Native Women’s; Marilyn Napier from MACA; His Worship Eddie Koyina from Rae; and, Alphonse Nitsiza, the Chair of the Dogrib Community Services Board. Thank you.

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Mr. Speaker, when we do medical travel we attempt to be as frugal as possible, as effective and efficient as possible. Oftentimes medical travel is booked on short notice so we don’t often get the benefits of long-range planning. We do attempt to be as careful as we can be. Thank you.