Tom Beaulieu

It looks like the Minister has answered some of my other questions, but maybe I could ask a question a little bit differently. The department has some plans, long-term plans, to reduce the wait list in the future for audiologists. Can the Minister explain what some of those long-term plans are?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On extended health benefits there is an increase of, I guess, $1.8 million. I'm wondering if that's an increase in the number of people now eligible for extended health, or an increase in the benefit. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Pages. I'd like to recognize Taylor Schear and Victoria Beaulieu from K'alemi Dene School. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the medical travel, there is a drop of $3 million. Is that $3 million picked up somewhere else in this budget? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a question on the harmonization of the Metis health benefits and the non-insured health benefits. I'd like to ask the Minister if he could just talk about that a bit, just to ensure that everybody is getting all the benefits they should be getting. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is great news that we are working in that direction. I think that, of course, there are other communities nearby, like the Minister said, that may require more nurses or more doctors, even in Hay River, to accommodate the convenience for the people that live in communities near Hay River as opposed to near Yellowknife. I think that, if the department has that in mind and they are moving in that direction, I am very supportive. That is all I have. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one question. Maybe I will seek some clarification first. We should have a midwifery program in Fort Smith, because that has been up and running forever, and one in Hay River, and then some midwifery here.

In Fort Smith, half of the babies born in Fort Smith don't come to Yellowknife, approximately. Are we expecting the same type of numbers? Has the department done an evaluation? Fifty kids are born in Fort Smith every year. I am assuming it is, like, 60 in Hay River. I am not sure, but I am thinking it is around those numbers.

I am wondering if those are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Affordable daycare would give an opportunity for people to find work, and there are not many jobs in the small communities. Does the Premier agree that job creation should be one of the GNWT's highest priorities in reducing poverty? Thank you.

Another item for cost of living, according to me, anyway, is affordable daycare. Does the Premier support all efforts of creating affordable daycare?

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of discussion about our government doing what it can to reduce the cost of living for our citizens. In fact, it's a mandate of our government to do just that. However, Mr. Speaker, the opposite is occurring because, over the years, we've seen cost increases to our citizens in various ways, some through taxes, leases, fees, and inflation. This has in effect increased the cost of living.

Mr. Speaker, I've risen many times in the House, offering ideas on how to decrease costs to our people and our government, which for the most part have...