Hon. Nellie Cournoyea's return to Question W25-12(2), asked by Mr. Gargan on March 9, 1992: The Department of Health has two agreements with the Department of Indian and Northern Development for the cost sharing of hospital services related to status Indians and Inuit and the recovery of payments made for medical services related to status Indians and Inuit. These agreements have been in effect since the 1960s, with the wording very similar to what is in existence today. The agreements were in place both prior to, and renewed subsequent to, the 1988 health services transfer.
The Department of Health's understanding of the DIAND position is that the latter feel the Government of the Northwest Territories is totally responsible for the costs of delivering hospital services to status Indian and Inuit in the Northwest Territories. The GNWT position is that DIAND is still responsible for hospital services provided to status Indian and Inuit residents that exceed the transferred amount. Put simply, DIAND's responsibility under the cost sharing agreements did not change with the 1988 agreement with Health and Welfare.
This financial dispute is viewed very seriously and is now being pursued at a senior political level. For the benefit of the Members of this House, I would be prepared to hive my officials provide a briefing on the issue to the standing committee on finance, or if you wish, to the entire caucus.