Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The long-awaited response from the Health Minister with regard to supplementary health benefits is finally here. I’d like to thank the Minister for her statement today. Many, many people in the public have been asking for a response to the Joint Working Group, to the changes to the Supplementary Health Benefits Policy, and they’ve been looking for information on these changes literally for months. I appreciate the Minister advising the public today through her statement.

I have to say that the 2007 policy, the rescindment of that policy is music to my ears. I believe that Cabinet and the Executive Council have finally seen the light. The 2007 document is just bad policy; I’ve said it before and I will say it again. I look forward to discussing amendments to that policy and to the implementation to both the Extended Health Benefits and the Metis policy, as

is mentioned in her statement, with the department and the Minister. I know we can develop a policy which will work and that will be fair and equitable for all NWT residents.

However, and it has been mentioned, there is one thing in the Minister’s statement and I’m dismayed about the lack of statement with regard to any action to cover those people who are not currently covered by extended health benefits or its conditions. I hope that is expected, but it’s not in the statement and I would like to know from the Minister at a later time whether or not actually that is the plan.

I certainly hope that’s in there, because it is the right thing to do. We do need to cover those people. I believe if we really try hard, if we are creative, that we can identify efficiencies and savings in the current Supplementary Health Benefits Program. Some of them have been identified already. Those savings will significantly offset any costs to add more clients to the program.

I look forward, as I’ve said, to the Minister’s of Health and Social Services announcement next week about implementation. I have the same concerns as my colleague Mr. Abernethy. There needs to be ample opportunity for Regular Members and the public, hopefully, to provide input on this implementation plan.

I want to thank the members of the Joint Working Group, of which I was a member, for the work that it did do relative to this particular issue.

Lastly, the Minister talks about difficult decisions and I agree. But if we work together, consider the needs of all residents and be objective, we can be successful.