Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member's statement, the non-insured health benefits in the dental program area continue to be a problem for status Indian and Inuit families.
Mr. Speaker, using a figure that I have, in the Yukon Territory, our neighbours have an average cost of $458 per client when they go to Ottawa and put a claim in. Here in the Northwest Territories, as I stated earlier, we are down to about the $351 mark. Mr. Speaker, it has been a problem in the North ever since Ottawa took control of that program back. I know there have been meetings between the dental association and the department, and I believe at one time with representatives of the federal government.
I would like to know from the Minister what is being done in this situation to try and alleviate the problem so that Ottawa does not only take our oil and gas out of the ground, but we stop them from taking out teeth as well? Thank you.