Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we've started the work on the policy piece initially, but that's not incorporated. There are no changes to the program. We would have to bring that forward and work with committees as we look at the program and policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.

That's fine, thanks.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Supplementary Health Benefits Program, one of the things my region asked if they would look at, I am not too sure if the Minister would consider this or the staff would consider this in terms of the health board, is looking at compensating the escorts coming down with the patients from our small communities. A lot of them put the pressure on the families and they certainly would come, but a lot of family members also have work. Some have to take some time away from work and the employees are pretty well sympathetic to the travel, so they would give additional days or take time off of work. Some of the constituents of mine asked if they would take someone out of the community for three or four days sometimes. Could they be compensated for helping these people come down on medevac or any type of medevac? I am not too sure what kind of issues that raises with the department. They are looking at this type of request in my region. Has the department given any thought or is that something they would consider? No luck. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I got the question correctly, the cost of medical escorts or escorts for family members. What we do now is we cover the medical travel itself. We also cover, if people are housed, for example, in the Larga home in Edmonton, that's covered through that system. If they are in a hotel, then we would cover the cost of the hotel and meals, but that's where it would stop. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Anything further, Mr. Yakeleya?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The people who are making this request appreciate that. Every time an elder leaves the community, they would hope that the department would take care of them and the department does a good job of taking care of them. Sometimes they have to fight to get an escort on that plane because a doctor says that elder understands English or he can talk English. We have our fights sometimes in the communities. Sometimes the nurses are really good and the doctors and they allow them to come on. I get these calls in my community, in my region and so I would like to

say hopefully with the seniors and elders it should be automatic that they should have an escort by the community members. Some may comprehend English quite well out of respect or whatever, but they have a hard time understanding some English. I guess that's one issue.

The other issue is the Minister has stated very clearly that this is all part of working with the escorts. That's fine. I am not too sure what type of dollars you are looking at, but I am saying that's a request. It's another passionate plea on behalf of my people. I know the constraints within this budget, but that is something they are looking at. Then we get into a fight. Well, they don't want to come because they are going to miss work. They pulled me out of this house here. I missed work for three or four days and no pay. It's a tough issue in our small communities. These things make things sometimes difficult in our region. So I am going to ask the Minister, I know it will probably take more time but that's what I wanted to bring up on behalf of my region on this issue here. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, medical travel is one of our growth areas that we have difficulty dealing with. In fact, I think you would find human resources on behalf of government employees is finding that a difficult area to deal with. What we do have in place again, compared to other jurisdictions, is one of the best that is in place. Also our policy is for seniors 65 and over, a medical escort is looked at. It's not a matter of English or if they are able to move and so on, that's one of our policies. At 65, it's not a question then of the condition you are in when you are flown. Anything younger than that, we feel at that point comprehension of English and that should be fairly straightforward. If you feel there are concerns, it should be addressed case by case with the doctor that's dealing with the patient. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Anything further, Mr. Yakeleya?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The medical escorts for 65 years and over for a patient, I think at least in our communities, the Sahtu, I think all the communities, any elder 65 and over should be having a support person there with them. They need the support, the family support. Going into the doctor or hospital sometime is scary; talking to the medical professional is scary. Leading them around Yellowknife here is scary in the cabs. They need support. I know the Minister says it's case by case, but I think it's really mandatory that anybody over 65 should have someone come down with them and escort them to the health centres here. We have some stories from the past of how the situation is looked at. Doctors come into our communities every so often, so we are making some pretty powerful judgments on who gets an escort and who doesn't. Who gives them that type of authority with that amount of time in the communities? It's really hard for me to sit here and say...I know they have that training in terms of keeping people in a medically healthy state, but saying you need to go to Edmonton or Yellowknife, I really think that elder should really have some support when they come here. I know elders when they come here have a hard time getting around. I think that is a benefit we should give to the elders to support them.

I do want to thank the Minister for really helping us out in the region on the travel of our elders. They give direction that the elders have a choice to travel on Canadian North on the big plane when flying from our communities rather than on the smaller aircraft because of the condition of the elders. So that was a good thing that you did for our elders. I think we just need to improve this system here. I know it is about the dollars. I know the situation with the federal government in terms of these benefits here.

I am making my plea again to the Minister at this time in the budget here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to be clear on the record, our policy is anybody over 65 does get an escort. Under 65, it's case by case and we work with the doctor. We do have that in place. We won't be changing that at this point. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. We are on page 6-31, activity summary, supplementary health programs, operations expenditure summary, $17.698 million.

Page 6-33, activity summary, supplementary health programs, grants and contributions, contributions, $10.288 million.

Page 6-35, activity summary, community health programs, operations expenditure summary, $69.187 million.

Page 6-37, activity summary, community health programs...Mr. Braden.

Mr. Chairman, thank you. I move we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The motion is in order. The motion is not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, committee. I will now rise and report progress. I would like to thank the Minister and his staff for being with us. Nice seeing you, Mr. Elkin and Mr. Parker.