Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, go Canada go!
All right!
The Standing Committee on Social Programs recently received information on possible changes to the new Supplementary Health Benefits Program. Now that I’ve had a bit of time to consider the presentation from the Minister, I’ve got some concerns that I want to express, unlike our Olympic team.
Firstly, I appreciate the research done by the department and the data received by the committee, but even though it’s good data, it’s been selected and presented to steer people’s responses in a particular direction. The documents for review contain certain assumptions -- although the Minister calls them observations -- that are leading. It’s like the department has already determined a preferred course of action and is using these assumptions to guarantee that the responses received verify that course of action.
The questions posed in the discussion documents intended to stimulate answers from residents also follow the same pattern. They’re multiple choice questions, but the choices are limited, and again seem to indicate a predetermined course of action. What is missing is the opportunity for NWT residents, especially those due to be affected by these changes, to freely discuss options for change with the department or the Minister. Nowhere in the documents are there open-ended questions which would allow creative and innovative suggestions and ideas. That option must be provided before any decision on changes take place.
There is a clear lack of involvement of stakeholders in the research and development phase of the data on which the paper is based. The working group established by the Minister was not involved until after the data had been collected and screened for publication. They were like committee presented with only some of the data; data which steers us to certain conclusions.
The implementation date must be pushed back to April 1, 2011. The timeline proposed by the Minister is way too aggressive to allow for adequate consultation. There’s a need for more than the one set of town hall meetings currently scheduled. The first will serve to provide people with information on the proposed changes so they can properly understand them, but there must be another set of meetings after residents have had time to digest that information to hear their responses and receive input. That requires more than the one month identified in the Minister’s current schedule.
The changes to this program could have substantial impact on NWT residents. Our job demands that we take the necessary time and do it right the first time.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
