Mr. Chairman, the Metis have advocated that they should be treated the same as status people, the Inuit and status Dene people. We are examining

that, and I guess the first step is the enumeration I referred to just to find out who are the Metis in the Northwest Territories. Once we have done that, it is under way right now, then we will be in a position to calculate the cost of extending benefits.

The Member is right. The extended health benefits program described in this section applies to everyone, including Metis. And so we are taking a universal approach with this list of diseases, but as I understand the Metis health benefits issue, we would look at funding Metis health benefits as if they were the same as the status people, and that would be a benefit different from that offered to non-native, non-status. That exercise is under way, and I think we should let it run its course before we fiddle with the extended health benefits. That would be my view, to work with the Metis Nation, take the next step, and then see where we are. Thank you.