Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Honourable Mrs. Groenewegen, Minister of Health and Social Services, further to my Member's statement and oral questions today, regarding the current payment of extended health benefits.

I am requesting your response in addressing the following questions:

1. Would it be possible for extended health benefit claims to be piggybacked on the current billing system used by your department?
2. What would be the cost implications of upgrading our current billing system to support an online billing system for prescription medications?
3. In the interim, is there any way in which an extended health benefit claim form can be processed for reimbursement in a more timely manner?

Thank you for your attention to the above questions on behalf of my constituents. I look forward to your timely response.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development has reviewed Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act, and wishes to report that Bill 3 is now ready for consideration in committee of the whole.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two documents I wish to table today. The first document is entitled Ministerial Procedures Manual.

The second document I wish to table is entitled the Business Credit Corporation 1999 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 13, tabling of documents. The Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the Public Utilities Board 1999 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in committee of the whole of bills and other matters. Minister's Statement 1-14(2), Sessional Statement; Tabled Document 14-14(2); Bill No. 6, Interim Appropriation Act; Committee Report 2-14(2); Committee Report 3-14(2); and Committee Report 4-14(2), with Mr. Krutko in the chair.

I would like to call the committee to order. During the deliberations yesterday, we were dealing with Bill 6 and the Department of the Executive. I would like to ask the committee how they wish to proceed. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would recommend that the committee consider to continue Bill 6, along with Committee Reports 2-14(2), 3-14(2), and 4-14(2), continuing with the Department of the Executive and then the Department of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Does the committee concur?

We will begin with the Department of the Executive, which is under tab 6 of our binders. Before we do that, we will take a short break. Thank you.

-- Break

Welcome back. We are dealing with Bill No. 6, Interim Appropriation Act, 2000-2001. We are dealing with the Executive, under tab 6, page 4. What is the wish of the committee?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the committee consideration of the item Executive Offices under the Department of the Executive be deferred at this time. Thank you.

Mr. Dent, are you moving a motion?

Yes, Mr. Chairman, that was a motion.

The motion is being circulated. The motion is in order. The motion is not debatable. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. The Department of the Executive has been deferred.

-- Interjection

The suggestion is that we move on to Health and Social Services. At this time I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services if she has any opening remarks. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Would the committee responsible for the bill like to make any comments? Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee met with the Minister and her staff on March 17, 2000, to review the interim appropriation for the department. The committee made note of the following issues.

The committee was concerned with the yearly grant made to the Dene Nation under the population health activity in the amount of $143,000. With the departure of several aboriginal groups from the Dene Nation, committee members wondered if the grant should be given to the individual aboriginal governments. The department has agreed to review the grant and provide the committee with information on the history and reasoning for the continuing of the grant and how the government might adapt the funding to address the issue of equitability.