Thank you, Mr. Chair. When I met with committee, this was an area of concern. The input I feel I received from committee was, if we're going to be moving forward, we need to reduce the impact on those low-income families who don't have an insurance provider and who may have to come out of pocket for co-payments. That's the work we're doing right now. It's a small number of individuals, and we're just, like I said, doing the final little bit of work on that to make sure that our numbers are solid. I'd hate to quote a number and then present to committee in the coming weeks and have that number be different because we're still trying to finalize it, but it's down from what was presented to committee previously.
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Ms. Green.
Thank you. Will individuals without insurance have to pay a greater co-pay in the next fiscal year? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's based on a threshold, an income threshold, and we're looking to increase that threshold. We're also looking at having different tiers for a threshold for families as opposed to a threshold for individuals. Some individuals will still have to pay the co-payment, but with the threshold changes we're looking to minimize the number of individuals who may have to pay a co-pay who don't have insurance to help them.
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Ms. Green.
Thank you. It sounds like a cost of living increase for people who are paying the co-pays for medical travel. Is there any reason to think it isn't? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Abernethy.
Without question, Mr. Chair, some individuals will notice a slight increase in their co-payment. Like I said, following the suggestions from committee, we're trying to reduce the number of individuals who are impacted. We are modifying the thresholds. We are changing and including different thresholds to help us ensure that we don't affect too many of our people. We've also been contemplating some other mechanisms to help support those individuals, but until such time as we get a bit more of that work done, and I anticipate it will be very shortly, we are just trying to verify some things before we bring it back to committee so that we are coming back with a full picture, but yes, it will affect the cost of living for a small number of individuals in this territory.
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister quantify a "small number" of individuals, please? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I already said I can't, because we are making some changes as per our discussion with committee and I would hate to throw out a number. Given that we are just doing some final adjustments right now, it might be different tomorrow, so I am not prepared to do that at this time. Yes, I am not prepared to do that at this time.
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to know how the Minister is planning to roll this information out to the public about the increasing co-pays for medical travel. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we finalize the plan, we intend to do some communication through our existing medical travel program. We will certainly do some press releases. We will make sure that the information is included on the appropriate websites so people can see it and are aware of it and are aware of the other mechanisms that may be available to them to help them offset some of those costs, so that they know well in advance. Our anticipation is that we won't make the decision and roll it out the next day, that we will have some time in between so people are aware it is coming.
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When would the new system take effect, the new co-pay system? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. At some point during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, but as I indicated, we are not fully done. We are making some last-minute adjustments to make sure that we have it right, and that includes figuring out exactly the timeline to roll it out in a reasonable way without causing too much shock and awe from some of those individuals who may, may, be impacted.
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Nothing further.
Any further questions, Ms. Green?
No, thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Any further questions from committee? Seeing none, I will call the page on 191. Health and Social Services, supplementary health programs, operations expenditure summary, $32,078,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Committee, we are now on the information items from pages 193 to 198. Any questions from committee? Seeing none. Minister Abernethy, do you want to ask a department question? I am just kidding. Minister Abernethy.
I am good. I am good.
Okay. Thank you, committee. I know it has been a long day. We will now return to the departmental summary found on page 165. I will now call the page. Health and Social Services, total department, 2019-2020 Main Estimates, $495,934. Sorry, I forgot there are three more zeros: $495,934,000. Any questions from committee? Are we agreed?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Does the committee agree that the consideration of the Department of Health and Social Services is concluded?
Agreed.
Agreed. Thank you. Thank you, Minister, and our thanks to your witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu, what is the wish of committee?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the Chair rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. The motion is on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates 2019-2020, and would like to report progress, and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thanks.
Thank you. Do we have a seconder? Member for Yellowknife North. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that Bill 32, Naturopathic Profession Statutes Amendment Act, be read for the third time, and Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
The Member for Great Slave, the Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Thebacha, the Member for Mackenzie Delta, the Member for Sahtu, the Member for Yellowknife North, the Member for Kam Lake, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Deh Cho, the Member for Nunakput, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Range Lake.
All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise. The results of the recorded vote: 16 in favour, no abstentions, no one opposing. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Orders of the day for Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers' Statements
Members' Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to the Commissioner's Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
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Bill 40, Smoking Control and Reduction Act
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Bill 41, Tobacco and Vapor Products Control Act
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Bill 31, Northwest Territories 911 Act
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Minister's Statement 131-18(3), Sessional Statement
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Minister's Statement 151-18(3), New Federal Infrastructure Agreement
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Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates, 2019-2020
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Thank you, committee. It has been a long day. Thank you to all of the Pages for sticking with us. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
