Thank you, Madam Chair. Does the department have any dollar amounts on what the Government of the Northwest Territories are spending presently in providing mammography services to residents of the Northwest Territories? I am talking about, I believe Yellowknife is the only location they may be performed in. So, are there lots of referrals to Yellowknife or southern locations and does the Minister have a handle on how many dollars the departments or boards would be spending on that service presently? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do not have that information here. I could certainly find that information out because boards of course do spend for mammography when their patients travel to areas if there are individuals that require treatment or screening, then it depends of course, where the equipment is, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Does the Minister know if the female population of the Northwest Territories, especially in smaller communities, are aware of their obligations or does the department provide any literature? You know, preventative medicine? We have heard quite a bit about it. Do residents in the smaller communities know it is a good idea and a very proactive approach to the whole area of breast cancer that these examinations should be done? Do the departments put out that information making residents of the Northwest Territories aware of that?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I understand literature is translated into aboriginal languages. I do not know exactly how many. I could certainly find out what is available at health centres. I know there are annual breast self-examinations clinics taking place at the health centres throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Minister responded to questions Mr. Roland had earlier and he had talked about doctors performing locums and also that there were telephone consultations. I find that a little strange that it may be standard practice in some communities. I could see consulting with a lawyer on the phone, but I have a little bit more concern consulting with someone who was treating me for health concerns. A recommended number of doctors that the department would suggest boards should have? Does he have a handle on the numbers of doctors that the Northwest Territories are short of at this time?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I do not have that information with me. I do recall reviewing the physicians' manpower requirements study that was undertaken by the Northwest Territories Medical Association. I believe that was approximately about a year ago, and I think at that time it was somewhere from my recollection, about 20 physicians or something like that, 15-20 positions through the Northwest Territories.

I just wanted to clarify the issue of telephone consultations. We are not speaking about the client or the patient speaking with the physician over the phone. We are talking about the nurse, the practitioner that would be providing primary care for the client consulting with the physician on whether or not what treatment that individual may need and whether or not they would need to be sent out or if it could wait until the next physician visits and that type of thing. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to thank the Minister for his clarification there. When reading the Med-Emerg report I recall comments made that Kugluktuk for example was without a physician for, if I recall it was not months, it was years. Could the Minister tell me if the community of Kugluktuk warrants a doctor and if indeed, there is a doctor in that community?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I believe he may be referring to Cambridge Bay where it was the regional position for the Kitikmeot. There was one position that historically had been there. The Member is correct. Over the past, I believe three years now, it has been vacant in respect of a resident position. They have been filling the vacancies through contracts with the clinics here in Yellowknife. There is definitely a need for one and possibly two or three to service the Kitikmeot in respect of positions. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, thank you. Changing the topic slightly. The Minister is probably aware that the federal government in the area of non-insured health benefits for aboriginal people have recently capped some of the funds they allocate to that program. Could the Minister advise me as to what the Government of the Northwest Territories' responsibility is in this area where the federal government have capped some of the non-insured health benefits? Particularly the dental field, what obligations this government has? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we have no obligation in respect to the non-insured health benefits program. Right now we contract with medical services branch of Health and Welfare Canada to provide the service. As you know in other jurisdictions, the federal government, Health and Welfare Canada still provides the health services for aboriginal people on reserves. Up here of course, we do not have any reserves and hence the arrangement with our government in respect to delivery of the non-insured health benefits program on their behalf. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My final question. The Minister is probably also aware that the Alberta Dental Association were quite frustrated with the actions taken by the federal government as they are the bearer of bad news to the patient, and they talk about it diminishes the trust necessary for effective communication. Has the department been asked to support advances to the federal government to revisit this area of capping some of the programs for aboriginal people? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We have actively to my knowledge, pursued it, I think. A lot of the aboriginal organizations have recognized the issue of capping and have had discussions with federal officials on it. I do not know exactly what the extent of those negotiations or discussions have been to date, Madam Chair. Thank you.