Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we estimate it's about 10 percent of our population doesn't have third-party coverage, which is why we did some of the things we did a couple of years ago for medical travel and the $250 deductible. What work we've been doing here has involved Alberta Blue Cross. We've been looking at options of providing coverage for all northerners and it's a fairly complicated process. If we're seen to be providing a universal program, for example, then the federal government will just sort of walk away from non-insured health benefits saying you're providing it for everybody else, we're not paying anymore. So we are going to be coming forward with some options here that we think will allow us to help address this. It's going to need some reprofiling, but there will be a number of options. So we are working on it. We have consulted with the insurance companies and specialists, and we've consulted with the homeless and we've consulted with the Salvation Army. We're going to consult with the seniors and we're walking through how do we close that gap, that 10 percent gap. Thank you.
Michael Miltenberger on Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 20th, 2006. See this statement in context.
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 19th, 2006
Page 1150
See context to find out what was said next.