Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. So is that -- where do I find this in the money -- or sorry, the money in the budget? I know on the grants and contributions, there's a respite fund. Is that different thafn the paid caregiver program? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

We're looking for that, Madam Chair. I don't think that that's what you're looking at on page 204. This is a federal contribution agreement that provides for this through one of the existing bilaterals. So I feel like it would be near the front with revenue summary maybe.

Yes. While they're looking for that, Member for Frame Lake, did you have any other questions?

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, look, where the money comes from, I understand it's from the feds, it's for another year. I think we're going to have to look at making this a permanent program. But I wanted to ask about the page 203, home care and support services. You know, back in 2021-2022, it was almost $24 million then it went down. It's going back up a little bit. What's happening with this line item? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Yes, thank you. I'll answer the first question first. So if the Member looks on page 182, there is a fund here called home and community care and mental health and addiction services bilateral funding agreement. And that is the fund that we're using to address a couple of priority areas. One is mental health programming and crisis support. And the other is the family care -- paid family caregiver program and the implementation of this international resident assessment tool, known as interRAI. So that's where the money is coming from from that. That fund expires in -- at the end of March and it is being renegotiated. So that will certainly have an impact on whether it's continued.

The next question -- there was extra money in 2021-2022, which was part of the safe long term care agreement from the federal government that assisted with COVID expenses and which has since lapsed.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Okay, thanks. So there was a big review of home care services, and I think there were some, you know, policy level changes that were made. But are we actually increasing any money in the budget to help better support home care services? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Yes, thank you. For that detail, I'll ask the deputy minister, please.

Deputy minister.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Yeah, okay. No, thanks for that detail. I guess my last question is what's the status of the seniors strategy? And I'm if I didn't -- if it fits in somewhere else. Just this seems like a logical place to ask. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I intend to table it during the next session. That is the May/June session. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a couple questions on the paid caregiver. I think most of them have been answered. But a constituent there in Hay River had asked me if there was any -- if there was any appetite, I guess, from this government to increase the remuneration amount or the number of hours that they could charge for? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Yes, thank you. We haven't considered doing that because it would mean that fewer people would qualify for the program or have fewer hours. So we set a number of clients that we would focus in each -- focus on in each community, and that's what informed the funding pot for this year and the carryover for next year.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And the two years -- I guess it's been in operation two years and I think you said you extended it for another year. What was the review criteria that was used, I guess, for the extension? Thank you.