Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to resume my questions to the Premier because I didn't feel that I got an answer to the question that I asked, so I'm going to repeat the question. There is going to be an additional $33 million required for operations and maintenance of long-term beds when they're available. What money will pay for this operations and maintenance cost? Thank you.
Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there is operation and maintenance costs required, it will come from within the government's budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Premier. Adding another $33 million to the operations and maintenance budget of the Department of Health would be a very considerable increase over what they are spending today. How will the government decide on cuts, efficiencies, taxes, co-pays, to raise this money? Where will this money come from?
The Member is asking me to speculate on future events. Certainly, at the appropriate time, we will deal with the issue.
Thank you to the Premier. Yesterday, the Premier said to my colleague that the department has been very diligent in finding ways to become more efficient and effective in delivering healthcare. Could the Premier please elaborate on that statement?
I'll be pleased to do so. When the previous government negotiated or imposed a 10-year health accord on all of the governments of Canada, the provincial and territorial governments, there was a 6 per cent increase. It would drop to 3 per cent after 10 years. We've reached that point. This new federal government has continued with that. They've accepted what the previous federal government did. The basis for that decrease from 6 per cent to 3 per cent was to provide for more efficiencies, become more effective through innovation and governance.
We had a territorial health investment fund that was negotiated separate from the Canadian Health Act which provided for medical travel, innovation, and other medical services which worked out on an annual basis, approximately $10 million. Over the last few years, we've been able to reduce our spending in those areas to about $5.2 million. That's what I was referring to, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Premier. Despite the efficiencies that may have been realized, the health budget is growing again this year by $8.9 million, of which Ottawa is paying $1 million in extra funding to the whole budget. What I still am not understanding, even with forced growth, not new initiatives, the health budget is going up. That's without the big push of taking care of our elders. What additional efficiencies are possible to meet those extra costs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The largest part of our healthcare funding comes through the formula financing, and through that process, we already spend for extended care. We already spend long-term care, and we would have to use that process, whatever success we have in accessing the social infrastructure programs of the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
