Thank you. Territorial hospital insurance services, $3,616,000. Agreed? Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the THIS Board there is a note on the last paragraph that says, "To provide funding for increased requirements for the operations of regional health and hospital boards, $1,575,000. This request is partially offset by a negotiated cost sharing arrangements with the federal government. The offset is estimated to be $740,000. However, there is an unresolved dispute with respect to this cost sharing arrangement with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada." So is this saying that the $740,000 is for cost sharing -- there is a possibility it could be offset but there is a dispute over it, so we might not get it? Is that what it means?

Mr. Pollard.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, that is correct. We may not get all of it.

Thank you. Territorial hospital insurance services, $3,616,000. Mr. Antoine.

What is the nature of this dispute? Why is there a dispute there?

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Chairman, it goes back to the actual health transfer. The health transfer included three documents, and Mr. Chairman, as you are well aware, the government of the day was warned that this thing could get out of hand. It seems that it has. The federal government maintains that when there was a block transfer into our base from Health and Welfare Canada, that that should have taken care of part of the health costs for aboriginal people in the NWT. The Government of the NWT maintains that, yes -- and that was in those 1988 dollars, the reason for that transfer of funds -- but we maintain that as the cost of delivering those services increases, then the federal government should be responsible for those increases. So I guess the difference between the federal government and ourselves, mostly, is the fact that there has been no escalator, other than the escalator in the formula funding agreement, placed upon the amount that was transferred from Health and Welfare Canada. That is the dispute at the present time.

As you well know, there have been arrangements back and forth and offers made back and forth, and we just do not seem to be able to put something on the table that the federal government is attracted to, and vice versa. But again, it shows up in the supp, and yes, we may not get all that money. Thank you.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When the Minister is talking about aboriginal people, who are you talking about?

Mr. Pollard.

Status Indians and Inuit people, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Antoine.

This territorial government took responsibility for administration of health services for status Indians and Inuit in the health transfer program. If there is a dispute over the funding arrangement for the status people and the Inuit people, and if you are unable to recover the full amount, is there a possibility that the level of services provided to status Indians and Inuit would decrease?

Mr. Minister.

No, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Territorial hospital insurance services, $3,616,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Medical Care Plan, Total O and M, Agreed

Thank you. Medical care plan, not previously authorized, $3,425,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Medical Travel, Total O and M, Agreed

Thank you. Medical travel, not previously authorized, $3,144,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Total O and M

Thank you. Total department, not previously authorized, $13,054,000. Agreed? Mr. Gargan.

With regard to medical travel, it is for additional costs for patients travelling from their homes to the nearest treatment centre. Is this treatment centre referring to the hospitals? This $3,144,000 is additional costs with regard to travelling from the community to a treatment centre. I guess the treatment centre is where I am a bit confused; as to whether it meant a hospital or an alcohol and drug treatment centre.