Thank you, Mr. St. Germaine. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just another question. In the non-insured health benefits area, in the document right now, we are showing no funding for this year. In fact, I believe that was the discussion that was happening yesterday, that in fact we are going to extend it for a year. Can I have clarification on that? If that is the case, we are going to have to make some amendments here to show more dollars coming in, both on the revenue side and the expenditure side, correct?

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Madam Minister.

Mr. Chairman, if we do decide to continue on with that, the expenditure will be offset by the revenue we will receive. We will bring that back to the House through a vote 4 appropriation. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Krutko.

With regard to the non-insured health benefits, is there a possibility of having that program administered by an aboriginal organization?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, to my knowledge right now, there has not been any interest in delivery of this program expressed by aboriginal organizations. Certainly we could understand why, because this government has had to subsidize the cost of administering it and also subsidizing it for the things it was disallowed under the program. So all I can say is that right now, I am not aware of anyone who is interested in it and the negotiations are proceeding fairly well. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

Is there any idea of when these negotiations will be concluded? The reason I ask is the aboriginal groups are taking over responsibility for their own programs and services, especially with regard to wellness programs and also the federal programs that are out there. If this government does not feel that they want to manage it, instead of giving it back to the federal government, could they transfer that authority to a particular band or tribal council to administer on behalf of their own membership?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we would not be adverse to that happening. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

In regards to all the other programs that are associated with aboriginal programs that we presently administer from Ottawa, if we are going to do it for one program, why do not we just do it to all of them? Maybe we should just get out of the whole health care field and let the organization run it themselves.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not have a response for that comment. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Krutko.

It was not a comment. It is a fact of life. They are taking on more responsibilities for more programs and services and this is one area where they can relate to where a lot of dollars are spent in different areas that are presently not benefiting them. If they can somehow take on those programs and services and conduct them for themselves and carry out the programs that they feel they can administer on behalf of their membership. We talk about community empowerment. We talk about self-government. We talk about arrangements we have with this government. We have programs and services right now administered by the Status of Women with regard to different programs this government carries out. Why could not those same arrangements be made with First Nations groups with regard to the health insurance programs that this government carries out now? What is the difference?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Madam Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there is a certain level of involvement of aboriginal organizations in certain things such as Brighter Futures and home care program delivery. It is really important because we only have 42,000 people in the Northwest Territories that when these kinds of things are devolved, that we retain a fairly integrated service. The economies already are not there with a small population that we have, but certainly we do work with aboriginal organizations where it makes sense and where they have a desire to deliver certain programs. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister. Mr. Krutko.

With regard to the programs that are being administered today when it comes to dental care and eyeglasses, there are some limitations. When people have to get extra dental care or are looking at other programs that are there, that they need some dollars to either top up their program so they can replace their glasses where they may have broken them and have to wait for two years, it seems like a lot of people I represent because of their limits, their $600 limit on your dental, in which you have to spend within a certain period. You are allowed eyeglasses, but it is spread out over two years. In the meantime, if these people need dental work, we cannot totally refuse them. We do have other people out there who are able to access dollars from this government through income support, which may not fall within the category of, say, a status Indian. So what is this government doing to ensure that we do not leave the residents out there having to wait for those time frames to either lapse or do it within that time frame, so that we can improve the quality of health and the health care of all residents to ensure that they are treated fairly and we are not leaving anybody out?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Madam Minister.