Mr. Speaker, this has actually come up a number of times, and I understand the frustration that residents of the Northwest Territories, in particular seniors, who are accessing our extended benefits have with respect to these lenses. Progressive lens and tri-focal lens are a common lens; it's a lens that many people use. In fact, it's preferred by most individuals. Unfortunately, in order to not have a two-tiered health system here in the Northwest Territories with respect to what we're providing by way of coverage, our extended health benefits match exactly what is offered through NIHB; and to date, NIHB does not provide coverage for progressive lenses or other lenses like the tri-focals. As a result, we provide the same level of coverage that they did.

It has come up. I agree that it is frustrating. I've made a commitment during our negotiations with the federal government on NIHB; we intend to raise this as an issue and we hope that they would modify their formulary to include things like progressive lenses so that we can ensure that our residents, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, young, old, seniors, are getting the lenses they need.