Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Dent on June 8, 1995. It concerned the inclusion of non-insured health benefits in the health billings agreement.
Mr. Speaker, by way of a contribution agreement, the Government of the Northwest Territories administers and delivers, on behalf of Health Canada, the non-insured health benefits program to Inuit and registered Indians in the Northwest Territories. Under the terms of the agreement, invoices are paid by the territorial government and submitted monthly for reimbursement from the federal government.
The 1995-96 budget amount for the non-insured health benefits program is $15.7665 million. This amount was proposed by Health Canada following a review of the previous year's expenditures.
Mr. Speaker, a unilateral cut by Canada for non-insured health benefits across Canada would impact the Northwest Territories by way of section 25 of the agreement which states:
"In accordance with section 40 of the Financial Administration Act, R.S., 1985, c. F-11, payment here under is subject to there being an appropriation for the fiscal year in which any commitment here under would come due for payment."
This provision of the agreement allows Canada to limit payment under the non-insured services program to amounts appropriated. As a result, a unilateral cut across Canada would reduce funding available to Inuit and registered Indians in the Northwest Territories for non-insured benefits.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and Social Services is corresponding with her federal counterpart with regard to the comprehensive review that Health Canada is conducting relative to the non-insured health benefits program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.