Lesa Semmler

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I know that we do we do review, and as I mentioned the last time we do reviews on all of the clients that are out of territory and in each individual reviewing, if there is a possibility in bringing those individuals back. However, what the Member is also speaking to is, you know, respite. And in our longterm care, there are beds that are allocated as respite beds. And I know sometimes families get to the point where, you know, they're exhausted or, you know, they may be leaving for an emergency or having to leave town and, you know, have no other place...

I am just wondering where we are in the budget. Like we've approved all and not approved some sections. Are we back at the front? Is it general comments on the overall budget? Departmental overview, is it we're bouncing all over the place, so.

I'll pass that to the ADM.

We don't have the actuals per cost. We have the contract base facility what the like, what they charge per person going to the five facilities that we have in the contract. And we also have the it's the flights and accommodations. So where they're coming from in the territory to the facility base, whether or not they need, you know, an escort to go with them to it ranges, so there's not one cost. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, right now we have longterm care facilities. And I know that the Member is aware of the one in Hay River. We have Yellowknife. We have new beds opening up in Yellowknife. We have a longterm care in the Beaufort Delta region, Fort Smith, and the Dehcho, the Sahtu. Currently, there are expansions going on into some of those facilities. And I hear the Member that, you know, the people want to stay home. I know I hear it that, you know, closer to home, closer to the language, closer to their loved ones, closer to but, you know, at this time, like, the capacity to...

Thank you. At this time, there's no I mean, the program is set to go live September 1st, Mr. Chair. And next month, they'll be opening up the process for people to start applying through the program. And then, you know, those questions that are out there that what their eligibility, what the questions, how much, you know, it might cost individual members, that's why we're opening up the application process earlier on. But as this time, the program is going to change because if it doesn't, then there's 2,200 people that are still in the Northwest Territories that are not getting any services...

Thank you. For that detail, I will let the ADM fill that information in.

Thank you. And I hear the Member. And, you know, and this is why I've said I've I've even raised it with my own department to make sure that we're committing to reviewing and taking feedback. And, you know, and if we're going to look as a government as to what we're going to use, that doesn't just fall on my department. And, you know, that's the thing is I don't want to be using something that's different than what housing is using, than what income support is using, and all of our programs that we provide services. And so if there's that's a bigger discussion than this and so at this time...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, again, our extended health benefits policy is the payer of last resort. So the new Pharmacare Act that's going through the federal government right now is specific to diabetic medication and to birth control. It doesn't include at this time, that is as far as it's expanded to. And so they would have to go through that program as we are the payer of last resort first. If they are like, if their condition is diabetes or if they want to access birth control. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my deputy minister JoAnne Cecchetto. And ADM of finance, policy and planning, Jeannie Mathison. Thank you, Mr. Chair.