Glen Abernethy

Before we proceed with the clause by clause, we need to defer that and go to Schedule A. Are there any questions? Does committee agree?

With that, we’ll take a short break and return to review Bills 1, 2 and 3.

---SHORT RECESS

Does the Minister responsible for Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Dental Auxiliaries Act, Minister Lee, have any opening comments?

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you please escort the Minister’s witnesses into the Chamber.

Minister Lafferty, if I could please get you to introduce your witnesses for the record.

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. Matters for consideration are: Tabled Document 4-16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project; Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits; Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits – What We Heard; Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act; Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Dental Auxiliaries Act; and Bill 3, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Does committee agree that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Veterinary Profession Act, is ready for third reading?

---Bill 1 as a whole approved for third reading

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Lafferty, do you have any witnesses you would like to bring into the Chamber?

Does committee agree that we have concluded clause-by-clause?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the Supplementary Health Benefits Program. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 1, 944 signatures of Yellowknife residents and, Mr. Speaker, the petition requests that access to supplementary health benefits be expanded and that Extended Health Benefits Program for seniors remains unchanged. The petitioners also request that existing revenue from territorial income tax be used to fund the expansion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That is not horrible news. It still doesn’t mean that what we are doing is the right thing. It is my understanding that, if they jump back in, it is based on age, so now they are going to spend a lot more money than they would have if they jumped in when they were originally encouraged not to. I understand what the Minister is saying is for GNWT staff. What about all the other staff? What about all the other staff? What about all the other staff from other employers who were encouraged to don’t bother taking the health insurance because don’t worry, the GNWT has got this great seniors’ program...