This is page numbers 123 - 156 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.

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Further Return To Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 132

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 132

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In considering this request for these two additional positions for Hay River, would the Minister commit to polling and getting a good indication from surrounding communities how they would feel about using Hay River as a regional centre for birthing services in addition to the number of babies that are born from Hay River residents? Would he consider the desires of the surrounding communities with respect to receiving those services in Hay River? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 132

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 132

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, clearly if Hay River would be proposing to be a regional catchment site for birthing of babies, then we would consult with those communities that would be in that catchment area. So that will be one of the facts and factors that figure into the mix. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Question 40-14(6): Requirement For Physicians In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 132

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

February 17th, 2003

Page 132

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today goes to the Minister of Health and Social Services and it's with regard to the medical co-payment as well. Mr. Speaker, this issue has been brought up many times and it was something I asked the Minister about yesterday. I totally sympathize with the concerns that Members from Hay River have. Mr. Speaker, the difficulty with this is that I believe the application of this policy of $250 to some people and not others is so unfair and it's an unequal application of the law. It's discriminatory. I don't think it would stand up to our own Human Rights Act. So why doesn't the Minister just stop this and not talk about all these discussion papers and everything else that's going on. He's heard enough of it, Mr. Speaker, why can't he just end the policy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 132

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this medical co-payment generates a significant amount of income into the health and social services system. The key is that there is a segment of the population that doesn't have third-party coverage. One of the concerns is, for example, if we just did away with the medical co-payment, we would be losing over $1 million for the uninsured health benefits that currently comes into the system. So we have to look at this carefully and we have to see how we are going to respond to this. This is one item in the supplementary health benefits review. I am clearly aware of the impact and the concern it has. It has a similar concern in my community as well, Mr. Speaker. So we want to deal with this as part of the overall review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 132

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 132

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if this should be part of the review of the supplementary health benefit anyway. That's a wide spectrum of areas and this is a very specific thing. Another thing I suggest to the Minister is I don't believe the government has the right to raise money by breaking its own law of equal treatment. Look at the situation, Mr. Speaker. It's only those who don't have services in their communities who have to pay this and it's only those who don't have their own company insurance, government insurance or some kind of non-insured health benefits under aboriginal programs. So it's the working poor without a job or the self-employed who are paying this. This is totally against equality provisions. So why can't the Minister come up with a way of dealing with that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have indicated the process we have undertaken to address this issue within the context of review of supplementary health benefits. I am not in denial on this issue. I am aware of its pressing nature, but we have to do this in a broader framework and we have to do this with a plan that's going to stand scrutiny and make sense and not cost us money we don't have, but also recognize the need to close gaps that currently exist in our system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The answer the Minister has just given, if I were to repeat that to a constituent of mine, she would never understand it. That doesn't make any sense, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if he wants to take advantage of the revenues he is getting, why can't he come up with a rebate for those who can't afford it, those who are self-employed and who are being unfairly treated in having to pay for it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, the issue of third party coverage is a complex one. In many jurisdictions down south, there is no such thing as people being flown to where they need the service. If you have a doctor's appointment in Toronto and you live in Peterborough, they tell you you have an appointment in Toronto and the expectation is you get there. What we are intending to do is provide a basic minimum level of service and additionally we try to provide enhanced services. What we have, unfortunately, is a gap in that level of service and we are trying, within a broader context, to address that issue.

Further Return To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that there is a way to address that gap without studying any further. The Minister could reduce the co-payment amount to those who don't have any other third-party privileges or give a rebate to those who can't afford it. Why can't he consider that, Mr. Speaker?

Supplementary To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the concerns is, once again, if I can use the uninsured health benefits is, if it's not a universally applied fee, then the federal government will just assume that they should have to pay it as well. So it is not just as simple as giving a rebate to a particular segment of the population. We have to come up with a way that's going to allow us to meet all those considerations when we come up with that review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Question 41-14(6): Medical Travel Co-payment
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 133

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is a follow-up to my Member's statement with regard to the signing of the memorandum of understanding between this government and the Gwich'in Tribal Council. Mr. Speaker, these agreements are part and parcel of what flows from the land claim agreements on economic measures and also looking at government contracting policies and procedures. One thing we hear a lot about is why do they negotiate these types of agreements. Mr. Speaker, I think it's fair. There are still 50 percent of the contracts going out to public tender. I would like to ask the Minister, could the Minister elaborate on how that 50 percent is going to be dictated and what's the process to deal with the other 50 percent?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Sorry, Mr. Krutko. I'm not sure to whom you directed that question. Pointing is not good enough, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and human resources.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.