I am pleased to second this motion that has been brought forward today by Mr. Abernethy. I appreciate the work that he has put into this issue along with other Members and to his analysis of what has happened. It is so thorough that it is difficult to know what to say and to actually add to it. He has pretty much covered all the bases.

Mr. Speaker, just to summarize and let you know what my concerns are about this change to the Supplementary Health Benefits Policy, I have indicated we did feel for several years as a government that it was necessary to do something to assist those families that were not covered by any other supplementary health benefit insurance and that it was difficult for families if unforeseen illness or medical requirements such as prescriptions or other extraordinary costs were to

come upon them. It could be actually devastating for a family that did not have insurance coverage. So I can remember for as long as I have been a Member of this House, that we thought it was necessary to do something to assist that group of people. Little did I know that when the supplementary health benefits review was taking place it could inadvertently affect seniors in this way.

I believe that we spend an extraordinary amount of time as a government trying to figure out how we can attract people to come live in the North. We have companies that offer incentives for people to move here, to live here, to participate in our communities and yet this action, if played out, would drive seniors out of the North. I have heard those comments made by seniors. I have absolutely no doubt that they are true. It is a matter of fact. The cost of living is probably felt most acutely by those on fixed income. I would say that most seniors are on a fixed income.

I haven’t once heard from this government that this support for seniors is not sustainable but they actually have done the analysis that would indicate what the actual costs are of this program. I just haven’t heard sufficient rationale. Honestly, even if I did hear what the rationale was for it, I would still probably consider that this would be an appropriate expenditure of this government to continue to support seniors in the North with the supplementary health benefits. Yes, it is a good program. Yes, you can compare it to other jurisdictions and say that maybe it is more than seniors in other jurisdictions receive in some instances, but I think it is still money well spent, well invested. When you look at some of the alternatives and some of the alternative costs, if those seniors do become ill or unable to continue to live healthy, independent lives. I think we need to take a very broad look at this on a cost basis even. Even if it turned out that there is a net cost to this government, I think that the people of the Northwest Territories, the taxpayers, the people who have other insurance, would support this group of seniors who would be impacted by this. I think it is a fairly small number of people. In a strange way, it targets quite a small group of people.

My experience with talking to seniors, whether we are talking about the rate scale or programs like this, is that seniors are not adverse to paying and contributing in some fashion. That is why I believe that a part of the investigation and analysis should include this government taking the initiative to see if there is any kind of group insurance that the government could cost share premiums. I am thinking of some nominal fee like $25 a month or something. Not every month or every year are seniors over 60, who would be beneficiaries of a

Supplementary Health Benefits Program, in need of eyeglasses or pharmaceutical support. I haven’t specifically heard from seniors about this, but might I suggest that they may not be opposed to some nominal premium which could go some ways towards offsetting those costs. I have heard the same thing from seniors who live in public housing where right now the rate scale says you pay nothing. People who live independently pay everything. I don’t think they expect continued support with no contribution, but that is something that could possibly be investigated. There are insurance programs that are out there…