There are no objections? This was an item that we left for a while and we're still on general comments. Madam Premier, would you like to take the witness table and bring in witnesses?
Debates of April 5th, 1995
Topics
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Brian Lewis
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair Brian Lewis
Are Members happy with that? Is that all right?
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
---Agreed
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
The Chair Brian Lewis
Sergeant-at-Arms, maybe you could show the witnesses where they can sit.
Thank you. Madam Premier, we'd like to be reminded where we left off. Perhaps you could introduce your witnesses again, for the record.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Chairman, I have witnesses for the deliberation of the Department of Health and Social Services: the deputy minister, Mr. Ken Lovely; and, Mr. John Doyle.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
The Chair Brian Lewis
Are there any general comments from Members? We're dealing with the Department of Health and Social Services. Mr. Dent.
General Comments
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have some questions I would like to ask the Minister. It has been some time now since there has been discussion about standards for air medevacs. I was wondering if the Minister could advise where we are on this right now. I know it had been proposed that standards be set and I know there had been draft standards drafted for operators. I was just wondering if those draft standards have been reviewed by the operators? Have the operators all come to a meeting to discuss the standards for equipment? Where are we in terms of the overall management of medevacs?
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
The Chair Brian Lewis
Madam Premier.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Chairman, after the usual consultation, the standards for air medevacs were finalized April 1st. The next step is for the air carriers to have an opportunity to look at the standards and make comments, with the objective of finalizing the standards for air medevac carriers by June 30, 1995.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
The Chair Brian Lewis
Thank you, very much. Mr. Dent.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wonder, would the Minister be willing to distribute copies of those draft standards to Members of the Assembly at the same time they are being made available to the operators?
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
The Chair Brian Lewis
Madam Premier.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Chairman, they're going to the air carriers, I see no reason why we cannot distribute them to Members.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
The Chair Brian Lewis
Thank you, Madam Premier. Mr. Dent.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. During the Standing Committee on Finance review of the department, I had asked the department for information on how many people would be impacted by the proposed increase in medical co-payment fees. I was wondering if we could get some indication of that right now.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
The Chair Brian Lewis
Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Premier.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Chairman, I believe that the ones who would not be impacted would be the status people and people covered under other medical benefits. The co-payment would affect 1,800 non-native residents.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Dent.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 840
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask, what is the department's rationale for increasing the copayments?
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 841
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Premier.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput
Mr. Chairman, as the Member knows, the cost of services continues to increase. This is an area where we could increase the payment which is cost-shared by the federal government.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 841
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Dent.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Minister has just pointed out, it is not cost-shared by the government for some 1,800 people. Mr. Chairman, I would submit that, by and large, this hurts mostly those who can afford it least, in other words, people who are working for very low incomes, typically for companies that don't offer health plans which cover transportation. I think it will significantly affect a number of people in Yellowknife, in particular. I wonder whether the Minister could make comment on the hardship that this might cause to some people.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1995-96Committee Report 4-12(7): Report On The Review Of The 1995-96 Main Estimates
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 841
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Madam Premier.