Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I haven't seen that particular one. But basically what the federal government was offering us was about $5.2 million a year over the next three years. We need $15 million just to keep up with our forced growth. That's no additions to anything. We're really looking at the amounts to the provinces and what the federal government took away when they cut our base by five percent, we should be getting $25 million a year in order to just stay even and keep a health care system here than ensure our people have the same rights to health benefits as anywhere else in Canada. So what was offered in the first offer that the Premiers felt they were compelled to take but our Premiers didn't take from the three territories, was $5.2 million. It was just so short we were still going to be driving ourselves into debt. I hope Premiers Kakfwi, Fentie and Okalik have success tomorrow, and I encourage them to do everything we can to explain to the federal government what our needs are.

In terms of miscommunications in the media, I'd like to see the one from the Globe and Mail. I haven't noticed it yet, but definitely we would want to correct those misconceptions across the country, because most Canadians don't realize the federal government takes all the royalties and most of the taxes out of the North, and we don't have that money. They sometimes think we're just a bunch of whiners up here; but, I'll tell you, we are being forced to the wall because we don't get that revenue but we have the expenditures. We really need the federal government to recognize that and put some of that money that they're taking out of the North back into the North. That's the only way we can resolve this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Health and Social Services, and it's in regards to the co-payment. Mr. Speaker, in the back and forth questions and answers, I suggested to the Minister that perhaps he should look into creating a rebate program so that those who are the least able to pay this could access this program. I had also indicated to the Minister that there's precedence for such a case. There used to be a rebate for property tax. So I'm just wondering if the Minister will consider taking that option. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member made the suggestion yesterday in Committee of the Whole during the review of the main estimates for Health and Social Services, and I committed to consider that and I will once again restate that commitment, that we will consider that suggestion. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the important point is that the action will be taken as quickly as possible. So I would like a commitment from the Minister as to when exactly we should be able to see the result of his consideration of this option. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, we will be discussing the issue of co-payments and supplementary health benefits over the next few weeks. Certainly once the House is adjourned, we can pay more attention to this. We would like to have something, I would suggest, before the end of March.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the meantime, could the Minister suggest what I should be telling my constituent about her having to pay this, probably prior to the Minister making this decision?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are two things. As I indicated, the current policy is still in place with having to come up with a method or a way or an option to change it. We also do have, if it's a problem with personal hardship, indigent benefits, where there's assistance for those who do not have the financial wherewithal to meet these particular demands.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Your final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Mr. Speaker, what would he suggest that I say to my constituent who feels that the government should not have the right to raise money on the backs of those who can least afford it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'm not sure that's a proper question the Member is asking, however, I'll let the Minister respond if he chooses. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member needs no advice from me on how to respond to her constituent. She has been an articulate proponent of the issue, and I would suggest that she has all the skills necessary to continue to respond to that issue.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. That's a pat on the back there, Ms. Lee. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Minister Handley.

Mr. Speaker, as MLA for Weledeh and where Highway No. 4 is located, I have, as MLA, asked the trucking companies to meet with the residents and the other cabin users along Ingraham Trail to make sure that they understood how that road is being used. So that's the consultation that took place in my constituency with me as an MLA.

In terms of the other users of the road, there are a lot of users in Yellowknife and there are a lot of users in Rae-Edzo, as well as Providence and other people. The department keeps a toll-free line. We keep it open to any recommendations, any suggestions, any requests. If the Member would like to have a meeting in his constituency to meet with his constituents and the truckers, I'd be happy to set that up, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.