Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the Minister if he is planning to let the groups make their own definitions? Is that something he is considering, to let the South Slave Metis define who is a Metis in their membership and the Northwest Territories Metis Federation to define who is in their membership and the benefits will apply accordingly?

Mr. Chairman, thank you. I recognize there is debate over what constitutes a Metis. My understanding is, what is used right now, one of the key criteria is the 1921 date, with other elements included. For myself as Minister, I would hope and work towards a definition that is standard, so we all know what we are dealing with in terms of the definition. At this point, we do have some criteria that is used, one of the key ones being the date 1921. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question is also on supplementary health programs on page 6-22. Specifically, it refers to those that are not covered by the supplementary health program and end up paying the co-payment, I think we are referring to it as the $250 co-payment that these folks must come up with on their own. I am wondering, for those residents who do not fall into one of the categories, they are not an infant, they are not a senior, they are not indigent, Metis or status, those folks slip through the cracks here. It ends up being primarily employees of small businesses who do not work for one of the governments, who do not work for a large employer with a supplementary plan that they can pay into and have their own coverage.

I am wondering if the Minister would consider looking at a supplementary plan for those who are left out, something that they would have to contribute to the way the Metis plan works, as I understand it, on this 80/20 basis. I think there are contributions made. I wonder if the Minister is open to exploring some of these areas to cover those who are left out. It does not seem to me that there are a significant number of the population who are not covered, so it seems strange that we would not do something to help these people. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we are going to be doing an in-depth briefing with the Social Programs Committee, but as I indicated earlier in the House, we have struck an internal group within the department and within government to take a review of the supplementary health benefits program.

I would fully anticipate that issues such as the one raised by my colleague, Mr. Bell, would be reviewed as we pulled together a package of recommendations of how to deal with this particular program area and to make sure that it is the best that we can possibly afford. Thank you.

Thank you, then I am hoping that at the time that we get this briefing, the Minister will have the cost implications of something like this analyzed and specifically look to the amount of money that we are currently collecting in the form of co-payments from residents who are not covered.

I would be curious to know. I would think that it is not probably that much money on a yearly basis. I think that is something we should know going into this briefing so that we can analyze the costs. Clearly there are cost implications and I think it makes sense for us to look at those when we are analyzing the prospects of a program like this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will come armed with all the numbers and projections and costs that we have at our disposal. It was a good point and thank you.

I want to ask a couple of quick questions because I have some concerns regarding the supplementary health programs. I have run into a number of problem areas. A lot of times when there is a problem in the system, or problem with the program, people in the communities will come to the MLA for assistance. When you start to track some of these things and start to work down the line to find where the glitch is, it becomes very difficult. In most cases, there is no paper trail.

Would the Minister take a look at, especially when it comes to non-medical escorts and the requirement for them, if it is a recommendation coming from the physician that we have some kind of paper trail, so that we know that these doctors are suggesting or recommending that the patient find an escort to accompany them? At least in one case in my riding, it has been a problem.

The other problem I have run into is where people are asked to translate, especially in the southern hospitals, and they stay there for additional days at the word of the doctor stating they will be compensated, only to find out they are in fact not going to be compensated. There is no written agreement and no contract, no real solid arrangement that they can fall back on, only the doctor's word.

In both cases, it is one person's word against the other. I think it should be clear out there for the people in the North that if they are going to look at some sort of compensation to cover some of their costs, especially in the cases of non-medical escorts, or if they spend any time translating, they should not expect to get their costs covered. They do not have any written authorization.

Is there a way the Minister can look at incorporating some kind of policy, so that if the doctor is going to say, "Stay for a few days and we will cover your costs," it is in writing? If a doctor is going to recommend to a patient that they provide a non-medical escort, it is in writing so that we know?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will check to ensure that there are no gaps and that there is proper documentation. If there is not, we will ensure we will make the arrangements without jeopardizing this broad process, but to deal with the issues that my colleague has raised. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That money was moved to vote 4/5 and is found under page 6-33, I believe, work done on behalf of others.