Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I ask the Minister of Finance, in your analysis as the Finance Minister, if we were to go ahead or not go ahead with what we’re talking about today in terms of long-term impact benefits, again, I will say to the people in the Sahtu, this would greatly hinge on my decision as to basic services that we do not receive in the Sahtu communities or any other small communities that we so desperately want to see in our communities. This is very important to me as a Member, as a Member who represents a community that has a facility like Colville Lake that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister of Finance, the money man, in terms of the supplementary health benefits. In terms of this issue, I want to ask the Minister of Finance, in his understanding that if we are to continue on with the existing program as it is now, could we, in his financial forecast, can we sustain this type of program?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to say a few words on the supplementary health benefits. Again, I come back to the principle of the 2,300 people that do not have coverage as we speak today and sit here today. These working-poor families, people who can’t afford to have coverage, are my main focus of this discussion here.

As we sit each day, each day these families do not receive coverage. That’s why I’d like this policy to see if there’s room there to continue moving with it. I understand, in terms of the benefits, that we’re going to be affected by some of the people in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I’m hearing from the Minister is if we do not go with the proposed plan, somewhere down the line we’re going to have a sustainability issue in regard to health care and that we have to find somewhere $8.5 million. That definitely is very concerning to me and my people in the region in looking at other issues regarding health. Also, that we’re going to be under siege. We really have a problem here, Mr. Speaker, in terms of this issue here.

Is this the best that the Cabinet can put before us? If we do keep the existing program, I believe that we’re going to be dealing...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated that for, for example, an income of $50,000 and up is a threshold. Is there a cap on the percentage about 50 percent?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister indicated that over the years we are going to have to look at the list of priorities in terms of how we spend our money, how we look at revenue, how we want to be able to sustain our needs in the Northwest Territories. Some of these priorities, for example, are some of the expenditures that I guess we can call in question. For example, the issue of building liquor stores in another region here over the front-line service workers. Is there some of this that we are going to look at in terms of what do we put ahead of the front-line health services in our...

Mr. Speaker, that’s another question I want to pose to the Minister of Finance. In terms of sustainability, in terms of the program that we offer now and what we are discussing right now through the government’s initiative to propose changes to the supplementary health benefit, there are going to be some tough choices coming down in the next couple of years in terms of what we receive from the federal government and what we want in our communities. I spoke of that very passionately about the needs in Colville Lake, for example, and many other small communities also are going to be asking about...

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Sahtu, I rise today to acknowledge an important anniversary. On April 19th of this year, Mr. and Mrs. Aldine and Frank Perriott of Fort Good Hope celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. I invite all Members to join me in congratulating these wonderful people.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Can the Minister provide to me the Medical Travel Policy for elders leaving to hospitals outside their communities?

Can the Minister provide the policy where elders must have or shall have escorts regardless of their medical condition and that our health centres must abide by this policy?

Will the Minister provide to me an explanation as to what is the rational to not have escorts travel with elders who must go to hospitals and who makes the final decision to approve medical escorts?

Can the Minister provide...

Mr. Speaker, again, I go back to the basic principle of the real issue is the 2,300 people without coverage right now. Is there a possibility, when you’re having the discussion amongst other things with the committee, in terms of can we put this program in place for the 2,300 people who are in need right now, as we speak? Each day that we deliberate and debate this issue here these 2,300 people do not have the coverage that other people enjoy. That we can have some discussions on the other issues that are very controversial in this House here. That’s what I’d like to ask the Minister.