Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Minister has said there have been discussions ongoing and the department is hopeful we can move to a different model for primary health care. I think the Minister knows the committee was supportive of that approach.

But specifically, in the four months that are covered by this interim appropriation, can we expect to see any resolution to this? Are we six months or a year away from seeing this instituted here? What is the time frame under which we expect to see this?

The Minister also knows the committee suspected there would be some resistance to this. I would like to hear what efforts the department intends to take, probably in conjunction with health boards and here in Yellowknife with Yellowknife Health and Social Services, to address the public concern that may arise about the switch in the model?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Minister.

Thank you. I am going to refer that question to Ms. Ballantyne. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Ms. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Ms. Ballantyne. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we all recognize this type of change will take some time. Is there anything that the department can say to deal with the fears that the public has right now that their health, particularly in emergency situations, may be at risk?

Madam Minister.

Thank you. I refer this question to Ms. Ballantyne. Thank you.

Thank you. Ms. Ballantyne.

Thank you, Mrs. Ballantyne. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am not sure that is going to satisfy the people who have concerns about the service they are receiving at the emergency room. Particularly, this came about because a mother heard from her doctor that the doctor was not being very reassuring about the service level at the emergency ward.

I think this is something we need to move on very quickly. I would encourage the department to put their best efforts into resolving the physician situation, while still moving ahead with the changes.

Mr. Chairman, since I see I am running out of time, I am going to add another issue before my time is up. I am interested in finding out from the interim budget how much is allocated to placement for children in facilities in southern Canada? Just what intentions does the department have to try and repatriate services for those children to the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the first part of the question, the answer is contracts for southern placements are $2,298,000. The second part of Mr. Dent's question was, what plans do we have for repatriation? As Ms. Ballantyne previously mentioned, our alternative programming initiative, which is in the works at this time, would increase the number of placements available for children from the current 16 beds that are available to 28. That could see a very significant percentage of the 40 that are referred to the south return to the North if that plan proceeds. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. The Chair recognizes the Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my question is in regards to the health insurance program, especially the non-insured health program that is specifically for aboriginal and first nations people.

In my riding, one thing you find is there is not really enough money to adequately provide services when you look at the cuts that have taken place. For eyeglasses, you are limited to one pair, I think, every two years. In dental care, there is a top I believe of $400 per person.

I think that because of these cuts, it is affecting the health and well-being of these people because of the total bill for the whole procedure. I wonder what is this government doing to try to top that up so that you are not maxing out your health benefit program?

Could the Minister tell me what her department is doing to ensure people are not told, "Sorry, you have used up your limit. Come back next year, come back in two years"? Especially for people with glasses and dental care. That is the area where I hear the most concerns. Could the Minister tell me, what are they doing to top up that program so people get the care they really need? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Member is right that some of the changes in the federal government programs and policies have impacted the non-insured health benefits program and have made the program more difficult to manage, both administratively and financially.

Discussions are ongoing, however, with Health Canada to resolve issues such as disputed claims. The Member mentions the dental services. With the change in the program with the federal government, it has made the processing of applications and approvals for work and payments, time consuming and cumbersome. What we can do as a department is continue to work with the federal government to raise these issues on behalf of northern constituents.

I do agree with the Member that recent changes have created significant issues for Northwest Territories residents. We look forward to the resolution of these problems but the discussions are ongoing at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the whole area of the supplementary health benefit program, is there a way we could combine the program so that we could allow people to access it? In some cases, where a lot of people need their eyes checked, they may find out that the prescription that they received may have to be changed. Because of the time frames that are in place, you have to wait a while before you can get your renewal or replacements.

I am wondering if there is a way that we could use the other health benefit program so that they would not have to wait that long. Most of the people, especially aboriginal and First Nations people, do not have the economic potential that other people have and they do not have the resources to afford to buy glasses over and above the ones that they are allocated. I hear complaints from people where they either break their glasses or lose their glasses and they try to go get another pair. It seems like it is the elderly. The older they get, the more fragile they are and they are the ones that usually get stuck not being able to replace their glasses once they break them.

I was wondering if the government could use the other programs that are in place to offset the monies that may be needed to replace the programs that are there so we could top it up with other dollars. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Member's suggestion of using other dollars to top up programs that are traditionally funded by the federal government can be a dangerous route to take because the federal government has certain responsibilities under these programs. When the territorial government then gets involved in participating in supplementing these, what you actually do is remove the onus from the federal government to live up to the obligations that they have, and that can set a dangerous precedent. I think that it would be the direction in the department to continue to work with the federal government to ensure that they do live up to their obligations and provide adequate funding for these various programs. Thank you.

Thank you Madam Minister. Mr. Krutko.