Thank you. Minister.
Debates of March 1st, 2021
This is page numbers 2199 - 2242 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.
Topics
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you. I'm not sure whether we administer NIHB for non-NWT residents, but I'm sure Assistant Deputy Minister Elkin knows that.
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Elkin
Thank you. For the NIHB program, the portions we administer on behalf of the federal government, if there is an eligible NIHB recipient and they are accessing programs and they have an NWT healthcare card and are receiving services here, then yes, we will cover them through the program here. However, for example, if an eligible NIHB recipient is not from the NWT, they can access things like pharmaceutical programs here because they bill directly to the federal government. I'll have to check on the dental, whether or not we require an NWT healthcare card or whether or not it could be anybody who is eligible for NIHB.
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Rocky Simpson Hay River South
Thank you, Madam Chair. One of the issues that come up in Hay River, as well, is because of the number of non-Indigenous Metis there. They don't have the same coverage as the Indigenous Metis. I look at NIHB, which covers pretty much all the First Nations across Canada, whereas what we have here for the Metis is for a specific group of Metis. The question, and I think maybe it's been answered, is: is the department looking at maybe looking at including the non-Indigenous Metis and looking for additional funds to ensure that all Metis are covered in the Northwest Territories under the Metis Health Benefits? Thank you, Madam Chair.
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you. I'm not aware that we are considering covering non-Indigenous to the NWT Metis, and we find that ourselves. I would be surprised if we wanted to go to in that direction, given our escalating health costs as they exist now. Thank you.
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Rocky Simpson Hay River South
Thank you, Madam Chair. We, as a government, use our own resources? We're not receiving federal dollars, then, to fund Metis Health Benefits?
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Madam Chair. That's our tax money that is paying for those benefits. Thank you.
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Rocky Simpson Hay River South
Thank you, Madam Chair. Have we been in any discussions with the federal government and requested that they provide the funds to cover the Metis Health Benefits? Thank you, Madam Chair.
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you. That would be a conversation, I think, for Executive and Indigenous Affairs to have with the federal government, and I'm not aware that they are currently having it. Thank you.
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Any further questions under supplementary health benefits? Seeing none, please turn to page 192. Health and Social Services, supplementary health benefits, operations expenditure summary, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $35,262,000. Does committee agree?
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. Committee, we will now refer to the information items on page 194, 195, 196, and 197. Does committee have any questions under those information items?
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The Chair Lesa Semmler
Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please switch out the witnesses? Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, we will not bring in the other witness if there are no questions from -- never mind. We will wait for the witness. Minister, would you please reintroduce your witness for the record?
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you. I would like to welcome back Ms. Jeannie Mathison, the director of finance. Thank you.
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