Thank you. Deputy minister Cooper.

Thank you. Are there any further questions from Members under supplementary health benefits? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I might be a little hard of hearing, but I think I heard the Minister say that the medical travel review was completed at the end of 2022, which we're not quite there yet, but was that -- the Minister meaning the end of 2021? Thanks.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you. The medical travel review was completed in 2021 and we briefed the standing committee on the results, and we've used the results to do quality improvement in our service delivery. There have been questions about whether to extend the scope of medical escorts. They are not budgeted for in this budget, and so that's -- there are no further specific changes being planned to the program at this point. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair, and thanks to the Minister for that. The Minister mention that Metis health benefits had been reviewed around the eligibility. Can she just give me a bit of a refresher around how those benefits were changed? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the sticking point with the Metis is that they had to apply for NIHB benefits and to be told that they are not Indians, which you can imagine didn't go over very well with the Metis. So the way in which the Metis health benefits have been changed is that the Metis associations determine their memberships and thus that's how we determine who gets Metis health benefits.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Okay, yeah, thanks, and I think that's consistent with UNDRIP and reconciliation, all of those things. That's good.

I'd understood too that there was some discussion at FPT table around the federal government starting to provide some financial assistance with Metis benefits because of previous court cases. Has there been any further discussion of that? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

I'm not aware of that discussion. I'll just ask the deputy minister if he is. Thank you.

Thank you. Deputy minister Cooper.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Yeah, okay, thanks, Madam Chair. And thanks for that information. Is there any further review going to be done during the lifetime of this Assembly of extended health benefits, say particularly for seniors? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you. I think that this would be a good question for the deputy minister. Thank you.

Thank you. Deputy minister Cooper.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Yeah, thanks. No, I think it's important that that discussion be held. I'm sure staff and the Minister know how sensitive that issue can be, so I'll probably just leave it at that.

I don't think I have anything further on this. Thanks, Madam Chair.