Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the difficulty we have had, having put out two RFPs and the fact that we are now having to do this internally as the best way to do this, I would hope that by the fall session we would have a package, if not before, to put before the Social Programs Committee and this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. It also relates to the issue of medical travel. Mr. Speaker, if a person cannot afford the co-payment, where do they go for help? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Indigent Health Benefits Program is there to assist those who are not able to afford that particular cost. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister did not answer the question. Where do they go for help? How does someone become certified as indigent? Do they have to be living on the small basket of food that we saw out in the Great Hall yesterday, living in abject poverty before they can qualify? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will be using similar criteria in terms of what I believe is what is done with income support. Abject poverty and the terms my colleague used are not ones I would necessarily agree with. It is a process to ensure that no one falls through the safety net and if there is a gap, hopefully we can identify that and close it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is there any distinction between the emergency medical travel and non-emergency medical travel when it comes to the co-payment? Do we charge the co-payment in both situations?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would presume that in the event of an emergency, the patient's health and well-being are dealt with first and foremost, and that they would sort through those other issues at a later date. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for clarification, and if the Minister cannot absolutely confirm it today, maybe he could provide the information later to the House, but I think I heard him say that in an emergency situation, we would not charge the patient up-front, but that we would pursue the patient after the fact to get the co-payment back. Is that the case?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Two issues there. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I am saying is that we have a system of universal health care and, unlike the Americans, where they reach for your wallet, your credit cards and your medical coverage slip, our first concern is the well-being of the patient. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under the current program, the area of compassionate travel was eliminated about four years ago. At that particular date and time, it was administered under the Welfare Program by the social workers. That was removed and has not been reinstated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.