Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, the broad figure for medical travel, which I don’t have broken down in my mind, but I know the ballpark figure is about $10 million a year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will commit to contact my colleague in Nunavut. As well, I will talk to the department about it and, as well, commit to discussing the issue in Cabinet to see what the possible broader implications may or may not be to the overall travel industry. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that there were discussions in Nunavut, but it is not an approach that we have taken to date in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am aware that the system of supplementary health benefits that we have has been with us for some time and it is patchwork of programs such as the non-insured health benefits which, in itself, is another program we administer for the federal government that we have significant problems with, along with our colleagues in Nunavut. Through the review of supplementary health benefits and with the meetings with federal health Ministers, and most recently Minister Pettigrew, we once again raised the issue of the need to sit down and look at non-insured health benefits...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, yes, if that was correct I would agree that we want to look at that very specific issue. I recognize that there are inconsistencies in the program, but once again, my information is that when it comes to seniors, benefits are intended to mirror the services provided by the non-insured health benefits. That was the baseline that we used. But I do recognize, as the Member has pointed out in his questions, that we do have problems in the system that is currently there and we intend to look into that and ways that we can rectify it for all northerners.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Sorry, I apologize, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Metis health benefits are the benefits provided under non-insured health benefits. The one big benefit that we do have in the Northwest Territories is we don’t have the cumbersome federal bureaucracy and rules and payment process that is in place with non-insured health benefits. So we have ours administered through Blue Cross. We have an arrangement with them for the administration and processing. The Metis benefits mirror the non-insured health benefits.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is Weedless Wednesday during National Non-Smoking Week. I would like to make use of this opportunity to recognize the work that is being done so that our territory can eventually become a smoke-free society.

Mr. Speaker, there are numerous examples of people and communities working to a common goal of a smoke-free society:

A growing number of NWT communities have now enacted progressive smoking bylaws that protect their residents against the health risks of secondhand smoke;

Citizens, tobacco action groups and community health professionals have come together...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I referenced earlier, the supplementary health benefits review that’s underway, its sole intention is to try to rationalize and consolidate those services that we now provide where there are consistencies that developed in an uncoordinated and a patchwork manner. So this is to level the playing field. We must keep in mind that on the non-insured health benefits side, that is a federal program. It is tied to aboriginal First Nations people, Inuit people. It’s a program that is very sensitive when it comes to making changes. We are working with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d be happy to hear the specific suggestions that the Member may have. I can tell the Member that the staff from Inuvik, from Norman Wells and the staff in the various communities have been working extensively with the communities right now to deal with the issues surrounding the many deaths currently happening in the Sahtu. As well, the RCMP have been involved. As the Member has indicated, the communities have been affected. So if he has suggestions over and above what is already being done and the longer-term stuff we’re looking at, I would be more than...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the one piece of work that is drawing to a conclusion is the review of the Dogrib Community Services Board. At this point, as I've indicated, we haven't as a legislature agreed on any particular course of action. So clearly we are not going to be moving until that is clear. I, as Minister, will be coming back to Cabinet with the results of the review. We've heard the concern of the Member, and clearly we have some work to do before we're ready to move in any particular direction. Thank you.