Thank you. I'm going to go back to the Member from Monfwi.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's it for this section.

Mahsi. Is there any further questions from Members? I'm going to go to the Member from the Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 8, about substance use and addictions program for a modest $69,000. With the high problems that we're encountering with social problems, especially alcohol and drugs, can you elaborate on what these addictions programs are entailed with this $69,000? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, Mr. Chair, this is certainly far from being the only program or fund directed to support addictions use so happy that the Member is pointing that out.

This is one of the examples of where Health Canada came out with some additional funding and provided that funding under what is called the substance use and addictions program contribution agreement, and this one is quite specifically with respect to smoking cessation, so trying to reduce the number of individuals who are cutting back or reducing or ultimately ceasing smoking. And so it's money that's coming over the last four years. This is the current amount and it provides for tobacco sort of specific therapies, data management, and a nurse in Inuvik, registered nurse in Inuvik, that can fall under this to help provide some of those supports. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd just like to thank the Minister for that detailed answer. It's encouraging to have these kinds of programs, especially when we have our younger generations populations picking up these habits, especially smoking within the small communities is so prevalent. You see these younger generations picking up these habits so thankful that, you know, these types of programs are available, should be more available, readily available within the school systems where we can attract and make the younger population more aware. Just more of a comment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Are there any other Members that have questions? Okay, thank you. Seeing no further questions.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, health and social services programs, not previously authorized, $6,022,000. Does the committee agree?

Thank you.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, long-term and continuing care services, not previously authorized, $4,129,000. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, long-term care and continuing care services, not previously authorized, $4,129,000. Does the committee agree?

Thank you.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, out of the territory services, not previously authorized, $9,162,000. Are there any questions? I'm going to go to the Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On the topic of out of territory hospitals and physician services, does the Minister have any sense of how this number has been changing over time? Is this typical that for a number of years now, you know, just over $6 million we've needed to spend this much extra in out of territory physician services and hospital services, or, yeah, is there any trend or pattern that we can see? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that's an excellent question and to my knowledge, that's exactly the kind of question that is being looked at by the health sustainability unit. I don't have the trends in the supplementary estimates document or background. I can say that this may well include some of the additional amounts that we would have incurred -- oh no, those things -- we did see certainly a bump when the evacuations took place, for example, in 2023, but that would have been dealt with in the past fiscal year. So as far as beyond that for trends, as I say, it is certainly something that's being tracked specifically by that unit. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do appreciate that answer, and I do hope they are looking at this closely. I mean, this feeds into the exact point I was making a few minutes ago, which is that I am concerned, and there's certainly practitioners within the system as well who are concerned, that the attempt to sort of tighten belts and balance budgets internally have led to a tendency to cut down on physician services that previously might have been available, at least at the Stanton Territorial Hospital if not in regional hospitals, and there's this sense, well, we can't afford it but not really recognizing that people still have to get care and we'll have to send them somewhere else for that care, but, you know, not to worry because that money will just be paid for out of sups anyway so we don't have to include it in our budget. So that's the concern and the danger of the way this budgeting is done. So I am hoping that the work of the sustainability unit and the public administrator can sort of uncover some of these patterns and stop it, especially given that we know, based on, you know, lots of studies that have been done, that it's much better if care can be provided as close to home as possible. That it's not equal just oh, it doesn't matter, just send them to the next province, send them somewhere else, it's just the same thing. You know, there's better patient and health outcomes and lots of expenses can be prevented down the road if we can provide care at the earliest possible date and as close to home as possible. It's better for everyone and better financially. So I hope that that work can produce some results soon. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Are there any other Members that have questions? Seeing no further questions.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, out of territory services, not previously authorized, $9,162,000. Does the committee agree?

Thank you.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, supplementary health programs, not previously authorized, $611,000. Are there any questions? I'm going to go to the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, can the Minister explain why the GNWT is responsible -- still responsible for funding Metis health benefits when in a post-Daniels case world where the federal government is supposed to be responsible for this? It seems unfair that we have to shoulder that burden when it has been proven in the courts -- or tested in the courts that it is a federal responsibility. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I cannot see into the crystal ball of the federal government. I would be fascinated to know why they are not taking this on similar to, by way of comparison, the non-insured health benefits which is a benefit that is provided to Indigenous persons, or at least First Nations persons, and this program administered by the GNWT is meant to extend a similar level of coverage. I do not know why the federal government doesn't seem to undertake this. Thank you.