Thank you, Madam Chair. My last question is on the item of the outstanding $30 million or approximately $30 million that we have a claim for against the federal government. I'm totally in support of the committee's position, obviously, and the argument that we, as the NWT legislature, have to work with our aboriginal partners in advancing this agenda and to make sure that we get paid every cent that we feel we are entitled to. But I do have a question on the details of that. The Minister has mentioned on many occasions in answering questions in this House that there are points of dispute between the GNWT and Government of Canada as to what services should be eligible for the federal government to pay. I guess my question is how much of this approximately $30 million in his mind, in his most objective analysis, is something that we should just give up expecting? It's such a contentious debate, I mean, if it's a case where the GNWT has decided to provide certain services and certain health care benefits because we feel on an objective policy basis that is something that we should be providing to our residents, but it is something that is not anywhere near based on any criteria that the federal government sets for themselves, I think there's a fine line between saying we're entitled to this from you because we provided it and you have to pay for it to saying this is something that we're willing to pay and that doesn't necessarily make it an accounts receivable on the part of another government. I don't know if the Minister understands, but I want to know what the realistic number is out of that $30 million that we can really be fighting for. Thank you.
Sandy Lee on Revert To Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 23rd, 2004. See this statement in context.
Revert To Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Revert To Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 22nd, 2004
Page 204
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