Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the supplementary health benefits. I want the Members to imagine some of the basic health care coverage that we take for granted, that we continue to leave others out, unresolved, because we have not moved far during the three years that we have done this work.
Imagine that there are 2,300 Northerners who are not covered by any program to assist them with their costs for prescription drugs, eyeglasses and dental care today. Imagine that some of these people are at least able to afford coverage through a private insurance program. Imagine that other Northerners have good coverage from their employer and they are also able to top up their coverage, so they pay little or nothing for their supplementary health benefit costs.
During the summer, Mr. Speaker, I participated in discussions with my colleagues about the proposed changes to this program. I listened with interest to the announcements that were made last week when I had to be in Tulita. I also want to see a program that was fair and provided to those who need the most.
Like all Members, I am very concerned about covering the working poor, especially those without coverage. I want the Minister of Health to implement the next changes as she mentioned in her statement yesterday, so that this government can start helping those families in need. We agreed that any Supplementary Health Benefits Program managed by the Department of Health and Social Services should be the same benefits plan for the Treaty Indians under the Non-Insured Health Benefits. The Metis Health Benefits Program already follows most of these rules. I think the changes will treat everyone more fairly. Let’s get that underway now, Mr. Speaker, we cannot wait until April. I urge the Minister and this government to get on with completing the work needed and implement the changes.
I ask the Minister and the Members to imagine some of the good things that could happen if changes were made. Imagine that families in the Northwest Territories who are low income and do not have an employer’s program or partial coverage for their prescription drugs, eyeglasses, dental work for themselves and their children, could become eligible for health and social services programs. Let’s proceed to making these changes so people could have good health coverage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
