Mr. Speaker, I question whether the GNWT is meeting the spirit and intent of access to healthcare as defined under the Canada Health Act. Section 12(1)(a) of the Canada Health Act defines accessibility under the program from which the GNWT receives full cash contribution payable for healthcare services to each jurisdiction each fiscal year. Accessibility, as defined under the program criteria states, "The healthcare insurance plan of a province "(a) must provide for insured health services on uniform terms and conditions", and it goes on to further say "on a basis that does not impede reasonable access to those services by insured persons." But what is reasonable access, Mr. Speaker?

Here in the NWT, GNWT employees are provided top-tier healthcare services over and above the delivery of healthcare for the public. Their medical travel benefit pays for the cost of hotels, per diems that reflect actual food costs, and they do not pay a co-pay for air travel. In the NWT, if you are a non-GNWT employee, you fall into a second-tier category - a co-pay system, $50 a night hotel subsidy, lower per diems, and different escort eligibilities.

In addition to financial inequity, there is also growing access inequity. Many physicians are recommending patients travel to Calgary for some services given the longer wait times in Edmonton. But because medical travel only funds airfare to Edmonton and not the Alberta city with the most timely-available appointment, residents are often left to cover the additional travel on their own. For some, this is financially inaccessible and the ultimate cost is far greater than travel to Calgary, Mr. Speaker. But the GNWT health benefits have evolved to an income-based co-pay system, one that I have heard directly from residents does not reflect the high cost of living in the NWT or additional costs many Northerners bear.

Mr. Speaker, I am not advocating for a reduced benefit to public servants but rather a system that entitles all residents to the same access to healthcare. I am advocating for the GNWT to use their own benefits as the gold benchmark for all NWT residents. Access to healthcare should be universal.

I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.