Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to address an apparent inequity in our health care system; that being that our First Nations people -- particularly our First Nations seniors -- are not receiving the same level of service from our government that non-native seniors are receiving in the area of health care benefits.

Mr. Speaker, I have often said in this House that access to adequate health care is a fundamental right of our citizens. However, it appears that that may not be the case. Mr. Speaker, for example, an aboriginal senior who requires a prescription must have their prescription approved by the non-insured health care benefits or NIHB department of the federal government. The NIHB program is very restrictive about exactly what it will and will not cover. Mr. Speaker, if the NIHB program will not cover for a senior First Nations person, then the senior is left with no alternative but to pay for the prescription out of their own pocket or not get it filled.

Conversely, Mr. Speaker, if a registered Metis senior needs a prescription, they forward that prescription to the Metis program administered by our government. If that prescription is not covered, is not approved by the Metis benefits program, the Metis senior can then apply to the GNWT seniors health benefits program for payment of the prescription.

Mr. Speaker, the same procedures apply to non-aboriginal seniors. They simply have all of their prescriptions forwarded to the GNWT seniors benefits program for payment.

Mr. Speaker, the inequities lie in health care benefits provided to First Nations people. Unless they have a private health care plan, these people do not have another option other than NIHB or no recourse, period. Mr. Speaker, this does not only apply to seniors. The Metis benefits program follows the same formulary as NIHB. However, Metis clients are also eligible for extended health care benefits, or EHB, as it is referred to as well. So once a Metis client has applied for benefits under the Metis plan, they can then access the EHB plan for whatever the Metis plan won’t pay for. Not so for First Nations clients. First Nations clients are not eligible for coverage under the EHB program that is administered by our government.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Delorey.

Paul Delorey

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. First Nations clients are not eligible for coverage under the EHB program that is administered by our government. There is something inherently wrong here, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I urge this government to do the right thing and afford aboriginal clients the same level of health care benefits that all other Northwest Territories residents enjoy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause