Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Over the last year, we've been successful in dealing with the president of Indian Affairs in Ottawa negotiating a change in the agreement for the hospital and physician services for aboriginal people, so that it's now a grant program as opposed to a contribution-based program from the federal government to the territorial government. What that means is we don't have the one, or two, or three-year disputes with the federal government over the amount of a claim. So instead of having to sometimes be three years behind in getting the final adjustments and audits done, we've been able to...Through the grant process, we'll be able to get our money quicker and deal with that. What hasn't been dealt with yet is the fact that the program is still capped by the federal government at two percent growth per year. Of course, the GNWT has to supplement that with our own funding and there is no additional funding being given by the federal government beyond their cap in this program. So I guess the good news is we won't have to wait for the cash to come in, but it's still at a capped level.
Mr. Murray 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 1149
Murray
See context to find out what was said next.