No, thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Thanks, committee. Pages 8-26 and 8-27. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister give a brief explanation as to details of other expenses on page 8-27, contract services 2008-2009 revised estimates, $8.2 million and in 2009-2010 main estimates $10.3 million? Why the increase?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That speaks to the contract we have with Blue Cross, which is the insurance program contractor for supplementary health. Thank you.

This increase, is it because of the number of members on Blue Cross or is it because Blue Cross is changing their style of this service? I guess I’m trying to get an understanding as to why they’re charging us more than it used to be.

Mr. Chairman, we know from the actuals under ‘08-09 that the program Supplementary Health Program went beyond what was budgeted last year. This year’s budget is projecting that it will be more than what we spent last year just by not changes in programs, but just by demand. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I’ll have some more questions later on. When the Minister says it has more demands, it means there are more people in the Northwest Territories accessing it or it’s becoming available to more residents now who deem themselves to be residents of the Northwest Territories? I guess that’s what I’m looking for. I’m not quite certain what the Minister is saying. I wouldn’t mind just another explanation and I might get it then.

In general, costs of everything to do with supplementary health does go up. It’s not really the numbers. The number of residents that are qualifying under these programs are relatively stable. The cost of prescription drugs are through the roof; they would go up as much as up to 30 percent. It’s just the cost of programs that we provide for our residents. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Lee. Next I have Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. If I could, before I go to the Minister for an answer to that question, that one is on 8-28. Maybe I could get committee to agree to 8-26 and 8-27. The number is on the 8-28. Medical travel does appear on 8-27 so we’ll allow that question there. Minister Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Medical Travel Assistance Program is under review as a part of the THAF funding. We received a chunk of money under medical travel under THAF along with all the other programs that we are funding under THAF money, and part of the stipulation of THAF funding is that we do a review. There is a review underway and it’s across the jurisdictions that THAF gets money for. I mean, it’s combining Nunavut, Yukon and the NWT. We are almost done with that and I would be happy to come to the Standing Committee on Social Programs to make a presentation on that review. Thank you.

Two things, I guess. A presentation isn’t necessarily required. If the Minister wants to just provide us with the information from the review, that would be great. I’d like to know whether or not this review encompasses the whole area of medical travel for GNWT or for NWT and the department, or is it, as she suggested, just reviewing the part of medical travel that’s funded by the THAF funding? Thank you.

It includes the entire program. We will undertake to provide the Members with the information we have and then any further information, we will be happy to go from there. Thank you.

Just one last question: Do we have a rough idea of when this review might be available? Thank you.

I haven’t seen it yet, but my information is that it’s almost concluded or is concluded, so I will be able to provide that information shortly. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Lee. Thanks, committee. We’re on page 8-27, supplementary health programs, operations expenditure summary, $22.977 million.

Thank you. Page 8-28, supplementary health programs, grants and contributions, contributions, $12.506 million.

Thank you. That brings us to page 8-31, activity summary, community health programs, operations expenditure summary, $75.072 million. Mr. Krutko.

I’d like to move to report progress.

Motion to report progress. The motion is in order. Not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Tie vote. Maybe we’ll just get a recount here. All those in favour of the motion to report progress? All those opposed? Motion is defeated.

---Defeated

Thank you, committee. Page 8-31, community health programs, operations expenditure summary, $75.072 million. Agreed?