Sandy Lee

To a certain extent that’s happening under the existing program. That is not new. We have learned that a lot of government employees who could extend their extended health benefits after their retirement for $25 a month have opted out of that because the GNWT covers 100 percent with no questions asked after they turn 60.

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is there are a lot of people who make less than $50,000 who don’t have insurance coverage that covers basic dental and vision in the first place. So we are looking to cover them. Yes, Mr. Speaker, everybody says extend the coverage, but don’t...

It is important for everyone to know that there is a policy already in place to protect privacy. Every health centre has that, every authority has that. We already have policies and procedures to protect privacy and medical information and confidential information. This is not a case of breach of that procedure. It is a situation where one out of 10 numbers that they pressed was switched and it just happened to be the other number was CBC.

Mr. Speaker, we understand accidents do happen. We will look to see what other measures we need to take to make sure that this doesn’t happen again, and we...

Mr. Speaker, the effect and the picture, the impact that we are drawing here is that for 80 percent of the non-aboriginal NWT population, they will have as good or better Supplementary Health Benefits Program than what they would have if they work for the Government of the Northwest Territories. That is a good program. That is a generous program. That is a fair program. For the rest of that population, 20 percent, they will still be covered. We are still generous. We are asking that they will start paying a premium starting at 20 percent, but no one will pay more than 45 percent. Anybody in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously this was a serious error. It was an accident. There was a 10-number digit that they had to dial and one number went amiss and it happened to be CBC. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the person is very upset. We are investigating this situation and the person is more upset that it got aired in the media. So I would not want to talk in detail about that.

What I do want to say is that every health authority, health centre, Department of Health, my office, have very strict guidelines on protecting the privacy of the individuals that come into our contact, not to...

I think I would have to undertake to get more information on that. I am aware that there are a couple of cases, but these things have a way of taking a long time. I can’t tell you exactly when it started or where it is. I don’t have all that information in front of me, so I will undertake to get back to the Member on where -- I can’t remember exactly what she asked -- but I will have to undertake to get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also received the letter that the Member is talking about and we are aware of the concerns that the seniors have. The important thing to know is that our information shows that this will benefit seniors on fixed incomes and low income in the same way as it would benefit every citizen who’s on a lower income. Our information has shown that there are people over 60 who have high incomes, just as there is for any other age group. So, Mr. Speaker, the fact is, even with these changes, this Extended Health Benefits Program will be very robust. So there will not be another...

The issue here before us is that the extended health benefits as they are set up are not fair or equitable. We have statistical information that shows that the income spread of our residents are such that it has no boundary between ages or whether they’re sick. Our program right now covers by age or by specified condition. We are saying that all of our information shows that’s not the most fair and equitable way. We have tons of analysis that is on the website that we are sharing. What we are saying is, can we not change the criteria so that we look at one’s ability to pay? What we are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Member really thought about that question, and I don’t mean to be, I mean this in a very, no disrespect. If the Member really thought about this question, he would know that he’s asking me to project what a health expense will be of our residents. How could anybody do that? For example, myself, I’m quite healthy. I don’t see doctors very well. I mean very much. I am a pretty low-cost NWT resident in terms of health care right now. Tomorrow I could develop an illness. I could have a heart attack. Who knows? I don’t know what I’m going to cost the health system. I...

As the Member for Hay River South and many here know, we know that we have a very good health care program in the Northwest Territories. I honestly don’t believe that somebody... Mr. Speaker, making a public decision and doing the right thing you have to look at things as a total package. We have 2,000 people who will benefit by having access to these programs. Remember, I think people should know, even for other seniors programs like the rental subsidy or fuel subsidy, the day care subsidy, a lot of other government programs are income tested. This is not the first program that would try to...

Mr. Speaker, the existing Extended Health Benefits Program is such that we know who is accessing the program and those who are accessing the program are those who are over 60 or who have a chronic condition or who right now make less than $30,000 which qualifies them as indigent. The information we have on the website says that there are a total number of 3,160 people who do not have extended health benefits coverage or a third-party insurance. That is the number we are trying to work with. Under our proposal, we could cover over 2,000 people out of this 3,000 people. Not only that, unlike the...