Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the announcement of this policy, I happened to have travelled to Fort Simpson, Inuvik, Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, and I have to say, when I explained that the changes are meant to expand the program so that we include a group of people that are excluded, people agree with that. When we say the senior cut-off is $55,000 net, and for most people that is a really good income on a retirement, because that means you have to make about $75,000 to $80,000. The gaps that we have found are that we need to revisit the income threshold itself, whether it’s too low or not, the difference between a couple and a single versus members of family, because we understand that there are all kinds of different characteristics and make-ups of a family, and the other gap that we have found is that catastrophic drug costs only covers drugs. We have learned that often the biggest cost item is not necessarily the drugs; it’s the medical equipment, medical supplies, if you

have diabetes, all the stuff you have to use. So we need to make sure that those are included in the catastrophic drug medical equipment and supplies program rather than just drugs.

Another glaring error that, not error, but the issue that we need to look at is the fact that you don’t qualify for the Catastrophic Drug Program until you have spent 5 percent of your net income. People are telling us that is way too high. So we need to revisit that.

I believe with all the number crunching and everything, we can make it so that most people are covered. The vast majority of people are covered, and who are not covered, if it makes sense, I believe that people could see more about why the government felt the need to change this.