Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister is telling me now that all of the positions are filled. Does that mean, essentially, the priority lists would come down? I think at one point you said just now 47 weeks, but would that list now go down to a reasonable amount so that all people that are waiting for this service can be seen within a month? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the Chair rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It looks like the Minister has answered some of my other questions, but maybe I could ask a question a little bit differently. The department has some plans, long-term plans, to reduce the wait list in the future for audiologists. Can the Minister explain what some of those long-term plans are?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On extended health benefits there is an increase of, I guess, $1.8 million. I'm wondering if that's an increase in the number of people now eligible for extended health, or an increase in the benefit. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Pages. I'd like to recognize Taylor Schear and Victoria Beaulieu from K'alemi Dene School. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the medical travel, there is a drop of $3 million. Is that $3 million picked up somewhere else in this budget? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a question on the harmonization of the Metis health benefits and the non-insured health benefits. I'd like to ask the Minister if he could just talk about that a bit, just to ensure that everybody is getting all the benefits they should be getting. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is great news that we are working in that direction. I think that, of course, there are other communities nearby, like the Minister said, that may require more nurses or more doctors, even in Hay River, to accommodate the convenience for the people that live in communities near Hay River as opposed to near Yellowknife. I think that, if the department has that in mind and they are moving in that direction, I am very supportive. That is all I have. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one question. Maybe I will seek some clarification first. We should have a midwifery program in Fort Smith, because that has been up and running forever, and one in Hay River, and then some midwifery here.

In Fort Smith, half of the babies born in Fort Smith don't come to Yellowknife, approximately. Are we expecting the same type of numbers? Has the department done an evaluation? Fifty kids are born in Fort Smith every year. I am assuming it is, like, 60 in Hay River. I am not sure, but I am thinking it is around those numbers.

I am wondering if those are...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As you know, I speak a lot on strategic spending and leveraging of money, and one of the items that I speak a lot on is early childhood development. In this budget, we have an Early Childhood Development Action Plan, and we have an early childhood development breastfeeding fund and a Healthy Family Program. I see there is a limit to the amount of money in those programs. Why is that? Yes, maybe I will just ask the question: why is that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.