Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, what we have seen is we've had -- what I do have is December 20th, we have 794 individuals that are registered for this benefit. And to the statistics on this is we've seen some member -- like some people who were previously on the program within it that they've chosen not to continue with it as the deductible might be more than what they were actually spending. And so, say for instance, somebody who had a $600 deductible, maybe it was equivalent that their medications only added up to that so there was no need for them to pay the deductible to just get the same amount. So some are not. So these are things that we are -- we are monitoring. And we do know that there are 366 new clients that are -- have been added to this so that is -- that is a good thing, and -- but this program, like I said, it is in its first year so we haven't even completed one year yet, and that's not until September, and I have committed to bringing back any information back to the Regular Members and committee within -- like, within the six months after that one year just to be able to provide any -- how it's going over this first year.

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So 366 new clients. So those are 366 new individuals. Does that represent a growth of 366 clients over what was there before? So how many were registered prior to the change, I guess. Because you're saying there's 794 registered now, how many were registered before? Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you. Before when it was a specific disease, there were 1200 accessing the program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Frame Lake.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. So I'm a little bit confused if that's the case. We have 366 new clients. I'd have to do some very quick math to figure out what 1200 minus 794 is, but it soundings like there's been a significant decrease in registration for the program. So can the Minister explain what's going on with the numbers there. Is there another program that people have fallen into; can the Minister just help us understand.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, as this program is the payer of last resort and some people who previously may have had other insurances because -- and due to the specific disease, you know, they may have had one of the specific diseases or a dependent that had one of the specific diseases on that file that would have made them eligible, that person eligible for this program, and so therefore due to the way that it's calculated based on -- I think it's net? Net income and the 30 bands, then they -- you know, they chose -- maybe they -- then that's the thing is that -- and for those that -- when I've talked to back to the department is those individuals chose that it's more expensive or it's equivalent to the prescription because once you're over band, band one, it is for prescriptions and supply -- medical supplies for extended health benefits. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The next question I have is I note that the budget item hasn't changed year over year. One of the cases made by the department when this change was being proposed is that it would help potentially save money. I'm just wondering, the budget hasn't reduced, can the department comment on whether the goals of the changes for the program have actually been achieved; has it changed anything substantively, or are we kind of ending up right back where we started with a different program that's covering less people but costing us the same? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the department, at the same time that they're doing this, they're also working on the product listing agreements, so those are medications and things like that that they're getting lower costs for medications, and so that is one of the reasons why we've been able to keep the costs down and in within extended health benefits on the prescription side. And just to also add note to the -- there are members and people that may not have needed supplies or -- so when, say, somebody that would traditionally use the extended health benefits and they were for supplies and things like that and maybe it was a big ticket item due to, you know, one of the things and they may not need that, so they may not want to pay the deductible until they actually need that. So that's what this program is. It's kind of like how -- you know, when you think of how some of our other Sun Life and you put in for your glasses and your glasses cost $300, but they keep the deductible, and so sometimes it wasn't -- in some of the instances that I've been told is that it was -- they just chose not to do that. Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister answer the question maybe a little bit more directly, just have we actually saved money? Has the program achieved what it was seeking out to do? I mean, the department gave MLAs a bunch of different reasons why this change was needed. I'm just curious if we've actually achieved a change, or if we're spending the same amount of money, we seem to be covering a few new people but less overall. I'm having a hard time understanding kind of what benefits have come from the change. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we are halfway through this year, so some of the changes that, you know, that also have been taken on, like I said, the product listing agreements -- and the ADM can speak more in detail to some of those things that have happened behind -- that are ongoing alongside that helps to bring down these costs. But right now where we are is we're halfway through this year and so, you know, we're not going to know the full outcome and being able to answer all of the Member's questions until we actually have a full year of going through this and then be able to analyze any of that. But if I may, to speak to more of what other things that are going on that's keeping and working to keep those costs down, the ADM can answer those questions. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to the ADM.

Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So it's the department's opinion effectively that this budget would be going up if not for the changes that were made? Nodding heads is good enough for me, Mr. Chair. And I'm out of my time. So thank you.

Okay, thank you. Next on my list I got is Member from Range Lake.

Thank you. So in your evaluation of this -- of extended health benefits, are you going to be speaking to beneficiaries who are now paying deductibles or more deductibles and engaging that feedback, I guess? Like, is there a client satisfaction survey that is going into this work, or are we just looking for a dollar by dollar analysis? Thank you.

Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.