Glen Abernethy

This is a sad day. It is unfortunate that we have to be here at all to consider a motion of this magnitude. It is unfortunate that this 16th Legislative Assembly had to get to such a negative place.

I was born and raised in the Northwest Territories. It is my home and l love it. There is no other place I would rather be. When I die, what is left of me will be buried in the ground here in the Northwest Territories.

I ran for MLA because I wanted to do good things for the people of the Northwest Territories and I still want to do good things for all of the people in the Northwest Territories. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Whereas the Minister of Health and Social Services had proposed to implement a new Supplementary Health Benefits Program on April 1, 2009, and has now proposed to defer the implementation of that program until September 1, 2009;

And whereas many northern seniors depend on the coverage for dental, vision, drugs and supplies for which they are eligible under the existing Extended Health Benefits Program;

And whereas many northern seniors live on fixed incomes, which do not allow them to absorb increased costs for drugs and other health care costs;

And whereas many northern...

Where one of our main goals is healthy, educated people, it’s hard to understand why reductions affecting health care we make are in the best interest of the people of the Northwest Territories. Yes, we need to be efficient and make sure that our system is running efficiently and we spend every dollar to its maximum benefit, but what is it in the best interest of the people of the Northwest Territories? I don’t believe cutting health is for the sake of the parks.

Thank you to the Minister of Finance for his budget address today. We certainly live under tough financial times where everybody -- politicians, individuals, households, businesses -- is required to make tough financial decisions. However, it’s not just making tough financial decisions; it’s about making informed and responsible financial decisions. It will require thinking outside of the box for them to take individuals out of their comfort zone.

As a government, I feel that the way we do business can often limit our ability to think outside the box. Specifically, the way we create silos that...

I’d like to recognize a long-time Yellowknifer, a respected senior and a constituent of the Great Slave riding, Ms. Jan Stirling.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to present a petition dealing with the matter of seniors’ health benefits. Mr. Speaker, the petition today contains 1,306 signatures of Yellowknife residents. Mr. Speaker, the petition is a request that the GNWT continue to support the current Extended Health Benefits Program, Specified Medical Conditions Program, Additional Drug Assistance Program and Indigent Health Benefits Program, and that the GNWT not restrict eligibility to income testing and not reduce benefits provided through the above programs in order to fund extension to the supplemental health benefits for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, February 6th, 2009, I’ll move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that the Minister of Health and Social Services stop the implementation of the proposed Supplementary Health Benefits Program and develop a new policy and program to cover low-income families who do not have supplementary health benefits coverage through their employer;

And further, extend the September 2009 implementation date to April 2010;

And further, conduct...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in your announcement, you indicated, the Minister indicated that she’s going to be releasing the program, the revised program on September 1, 2009. In my Member’s statement I indicated that I don’t believe that’s a reasonable timeline. I was wondering if I could get the Minister to commit to extending the implementation date to April 1, 2010, at the very earliest and that during the research and facilitation…Sorry, and doing the research and facilitating real consultation with affected stakeholders which will result in an acceptable Supplementary Health...

Sorry.