Thank you. We will attempt to get to that review when we’ve completed the other reviews that are in the books now. We’re hoping that we’re able to complete the essential reviews that we had talked about on the other items that we’ve discussed here today. So if we’ve completed those reviews, then we will begin this review. I’m not sure that I can commit to completing a review within the next two and a half years, but we will attempt to do that.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Next I have Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On this particular section I’m just wondering, quite often the territorial government has been well known for providing more services than it covers and there’s always been a dispute between the feds about what billable services can be reimbursed. This is the right section, I assume, for that detail. and if it is, just in case, then how far is the gap or what are we in delay of payments, because it’s always been quite

a known subject that we’ve been behind on NIHB return payments owed by the feds. So let’s start with that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There is no gap and no delay.

Thank you. So the Minister is saying that all our services that we pay under the NIHB program are completely paid up to date by the federal government and there has been no dispute on our funds and allocations of that? Thank you.

Madam Chair, through the regular time it takes to cycle through receivables and payables, that’s the only thing we wouldn’t consider a delay or a gap. It is just a normal time to do business.

Only a few short years ago, there were several million dollars outstanding in disputes and discrepancies between what the GNWT picked up the tab for under services we thought, or believed very strongly, were NIHB funds and, that said, were outstanding fees with the federal government. When was the last balloon payment they made to catch up to that disputed amount? Thank you.

Madam Chair, we don’t know when the last payment was made to resolve this dispute. We could go back and check to see when the last time this was an issue, and we can check the date on that. But I can say that it’s not an issue now.

Would the Minister be willing to provide that type of update and have it in a written form to me, and possibly other Members, as to the current status of this file? When was the last equalizing on the amount that we believe we were out?

I’m sure it was only a few years ago that it was tens of millions of dollars outstanding. I have to admit, I find it almost a bit of a shock to hear that the feds have either come forward and made up the difference, or maybe, rather, did we write down the difference on that particular amount and just walk away from it? It seemed to be a very bitter dispute between our government and the feds. We said they owed us money and they said they didn’t, so if they had actually paid this amount, I would be surprised, if not shocked, that the really old Health Minister didn’t inform all Members that they finally paid what was outstanding. I think it would be a cause for celebration.

I don’t want to make needless or useless work, but this is going to have to go back, obviously, a couple of years. It is that easy to find out? I’ll start with that,

because I’m really interested in this information. I suspect maybe other Members are as well.

I can’t see it being too difficult. We can provide a briefing note to the Member.

On this section, I think that will be perfectly fine. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Next I have Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There was a federal Health Transfer Fund and I don’t know whether it has to do with supplementary health programs or not, but the annual increase to the transfer was 2 percent. As the Minister knows, our health costs are going up about 7 or 8 percent. Does the Minister know what I’m talking about here?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like if the Member could repeat the question. Maybe it is something that we would require assistance from the Finance Minister to respond to.

Madam Chair, I didn’t mean any offence, but I don’t know the name of it. It was the intent of my question. I know that during the 16th Assembly, it was well recognized, and I wonder if this might be part of what my colleagues are referring to, that this federal transfer – I believe it was related to NIHB or indigenous residents – was only increased by an inflation of 2 percent per year. We were suffering a penalty of the difference between that and the actual inflation rate which was about 6, 7 or 8 percent.

Again, I don’t know whether it had to do with supplementary health or not, but I bring it up here because I thought it did. If the Minister is not able to identify that program for me, I’ll just hold off on that question. But before I move on to my next, can I leave it at that and see if the Minister can shed any light? Thank you.

Madam Chair, I will just get the deputy to go through this information for the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Ms. DeLancey.

Thank you, Ms. DeLancey. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Certainly, and I think the Minister would agree with this, this means we are shouldering more and more of the costs because of this differential in real inflation rate versus what we are compensated for by the Government of Canada. I guess, at some point, I would be interested maybe in seeing the Minister provide a briefing on this and what the costs are. Just so I’m not so awkward next time, is there a name for this program and could it be shared? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is an agreement for hospital and physician services to status Indian and Inuit. We would be pleased to provide a briefing note to the Member or committee.