Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I raised the question to the Minister of Health and Social Services about a constituency issue that has been outstanding for three years with no end in sight, it appears.
Mr. Speaker. I have another one today which the Minister has failed to act upon for almost the same length of time and it has to do with providing health insurance coverage for those suffering from Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome.
Mr. Speaker, I first wrote to the Minister in the fall of 2001 and made statements and asked questions in this House. At the time, the requests were over $800 in reimbursement which was rejected. The Minister indicated that he was undertaking a review of extended health benefits, as well as the list of specified diseases and conditions that would qualify for coverage. Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, he felt compelled to give me a little carrot to hang on to, because in this particular case we're talking about a child who needed to be diagnosed and treated by a special pair of glasses so she could read properly and learn.
Since then, Mr. Speaker, I have written a number of letters and e-mails to the Minister and he has assured me that he would do a thorough review of the benefits and let me know. The latest letter that I received from the Minister is dated March 28, 2003, and I quote, "All of the concerns that Members have expressed about the supplementary health benefits programs during the current and previous sessions of the 14th Legislative Assembly has been documented. These are being addressed during the review that is currently underway. I will be bringing forward a progress report on this review to the Standing Committee on Social Programs prior to the upcoming session in June."
Mr. Speaker, it's now September and I haven't heard a thing and I have checked with the members from the social programs committee and I don't believe he has done such reporting. Mr. Speaker, for two years now the Minister has stated that in all things he must make careful, measured steps. We can't act in haste; we need to do it carefully and do it right. I would suggest to the Minister, Mr. Speaker, the clock is about to run out and the time to act is now, and I expect an answer from the Minister about his coverage and the results of his review immediately. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause