Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple of things: our territorial corrections facilities have nurses on staff who provide some level of services, but, if they need services that are not available by the corrections system, we do work with those patients. The guards will often bring them out so that they can attend their appointments and whatnot. All the services that we provide to residents are the same for our inmates, unless they are federal inmates, at which point they are covered by Correctional Service of Canada. We do have federal inmates in the Northwest Territories, but, if they are NWT territorial inmates, it's the same as residents. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Mr. Simpson.

Thank you. So, just to clarify what he means by "residents," before I was an MLA, I did not have health coverage, I did not have private insurance, I was not covered under any Metis benefits or NIHB. So if I was incarcerated or remanded, would I be covered by extended benefits or would I just get the same non-coverage that I had as an un-incarcerated citizen? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, as a Canadian citizen, you are entitled to health services for all acute and primary care services. The difference is obviously drugs or dental. We do not have pharmacare or universal dental coverage in Canada, so that is what NIHB provides now, and we match it for extended health benefits. If you are not a resident of the Northwest Territories, you are not carrying a healthcare card, and you have not registered as a Metis, you would not obviously get that, but you could register and make sure that you filled out the appropriate paperwork. If you fill out the appropriate paperwork and you are eligible, then the answer is yes. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Mr. Simpson.

Thank you. So, just to clear this up, just a yes or no answer: if you are incarcerated, you have the same benefit that you had before you were incarcerated, is that correct? Nothing more than that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Minister Abernethy, yes or no?

[Microphone turned off] eligible for supplemental health benefits, the answer is yes, it does not change whether you are in jail or not. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Mr. Simpson.

If you were not eligible for supplementary benefits before you were incarcerated, would you be then provided with supplementary benefits during your incarceration? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Minister Abernethy.

There is no such thing as a yes or no answer. This is not: is the orange orange? Yes it is. Or is a red apple red? Yes it is. If you were eligible before, you are still eligible. If you were not eligible before, you are not eligible. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Mr. Simpson.

Nothing further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have a question on indigent health benefits. I am trying to figure out why the number is so low, but I kind of have an idea. I was wondering if the Minister could tell me if there is an income limit on the benefits accrued to this group. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this is one that we work closely with Education, Culture and Employment on because this is for individuals who are on income support. This is more of a one-time hardship program, so it's not something that is used for everybody. It's more when situations are unique or beyond normal and we need to work with them to make sure that our residents do not go into a new hardship. Drugs are part of income support, so people who are on income support are covered that way, as well, or, if they are Indigenous, they are covered through NIHB, so this is a small group of people who are impacted here. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, so this is a group of low-income, non-Aboriginal families or individuals who have no extended health benefit but they are under 60, they are not Metis, they are not treaty. I guess that is correct? I just ask for confirmation on that from the Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Not exactly; this is for any resident who is not working, who is receiving income support, who might be faced with a condition or a drug cost that would cause undue hardship, so we are trying to be available for those individuals who could be in a very, very difficult place if they are not covered. So it's not just non-Indigenous people. It could be Indigenous people, as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Mr. Beaulieu.