Kate Reid

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So what I'm hearing is we'll understand the data after a year but we'll make changes after a year. It's a little unclear, but I'm happy to talk to the Minister further.

Can the Minister explain how we are saving money of the administration of the -- if the administration of the EHB program has been exported to Alberta Blue Cross? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what benchmark does the Minister of Health and Social Services need to see demonstrated that the band cutoff as currently working is appropriate, and how is this monitored? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's gone back, Mr. Speaker. All righty, thank you.

Incomes above band 10 have to pay a deductible and co-shared costs for their medications. So far, 373 residents are above band 10; 245 residents are below that band and have their costs fully covered; 256 residents are currently 41 percent of all program beneficiaries are on the new EHB program that were not covered under the old one. This is good news, and I'm happy to hear that there are residents who now have coverage who didn't before. However, as mentioned during the last O and M budget session, this band cutoff is not a given moving...

Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of interest from the 20th and 19th Assemblies on the topic of Extended Health Benefits before and after the program changes. As the Minister of Health and Social Services knows, I am keeping tabs on the roll out of this program and need ways to ensure that they aren't making choices between paying rent and their bills or having the medication that they need. I had many questions for the Minister and, happily, I got many answers that I would like to share.

As of October 16th, 618 residents are registered in the new EHB program. Applicants are assessed...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And so in this line item, there is quite a bit of funding contemplated and I understand from the Minister's previous comments that they're looking for another location. Do they anticipate using the full dollar amount? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, Your Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that pursuant to Rule 6.1(2)(n), Committee Report 17-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have one more question of the project listing. On all of the major retrofit listings, they are identified as public housing units save one which is one unit of market housing in Fort Liard. Can the Minister please speak to why that one unit is market housing? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is one item on the list -- the project listing on page 74, biomass projects public housing, and it lists the location as territorial. Could the Minister please give more detail about what locations the biomass projects are projected to go to in public housing? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm specifically interested in the women's society's recommendation that asks for resourcing for Street Outreach here in Yellowknife to be a 24/7 team alleviating pressures on the RCMP. Can the Minister commit for his department to seek funding pots for services across the GNWT, departments across the GNWT that might address this crucial need? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Justice be willing to explore a formalized relationship with an external oversight agency of the NWT's RCMP, an arrangement such as the one between the Yukon and the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.