Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, most people in the NWT are still not aware that their medical insurance does not cover medical travel costs when they're travelling outside of the Northwest Territories. Separate and additional travel insurance must be purchased to ensure medical travel costs will be recovered, otherwise they will be personally responsible for these costs. Medical travel which originates outside of the Northwest Territories is not covered.

How many NWT residents pack up and head off on a vacation to destinations in or outside of Canada without considering how ruined their holidays would be if they or one of their family fell ill or was involved in an accident? Imagine the compounded stress they would have to return home and receive a bill for any medical transportation associated with that incident.

Also, for example, Mr. Speaker, students who are attending post-secondary institutions would be charged for air and ground ambulance services as their NWT health insurance would not cover these expenses. The cost could be substantial, depending upon the service required and distance involved. Many other residents travel to other jurisdictions for business and vacation and the territorial government's medical travel and extended health benefits policy would have a significant impact upon this major segment of our population as well.

Mr. Speaker, if we cannot pay for our residents' medical travel costs we should at least inform them of this potentially costly service. This would at least reduce the level of anxiety. We need a better communication strategy, Mr. Speaker. Pamphlets at travel agencies, ticket counters, airport gates, I suggest would be a good start. I've noticed numerous places where this type of medical travel insurance can be purchased, including on the front page of Web sites for on-line banking.

Mr. Speaker, perhaps we may also wish to consider a government-funded supplementary insurance plan for those who cannot buy medical travel insurance due to serious pre-existing conditions such as cancer or other debilitating conditions.