Julian Morse

Yeah, thank you. Just may as well ask one last question on this. That is is there just one provider that can provide medical travel, or was this something that we went out for RFP on and this happened to be the lowest bidder? How did it work, acquiring that contract for medical travel? Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And so just to help me understand that contract costs, so like once that ten-year contract was in place, costs were effectively fixed for ten years and so when we see an increase now, it did look like a significant increase but it could perhaps just be accounting for inflation, is that correct? Or is the Minister including supps for different costs? Does the cost escalate every year, or is it kind of only any time that we sign a new contract? Thanks.

Thank you. I appreciate the numbers, but it's a little bit hard to know what to do with those out of context so it would be interesting to see -- like, is the department producing -- it sounds like the Minister's got a report coming. I guess my next question is, is that something that's going to be provided to Members or committee (audio) expand upon that question. I mean, it would be helpful to see numbers presented in context. What was -- what were numbers of uptake like and covers, like, prior to adoption of the new policy and what are uptake numbers like now and have they changed...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. First thing I wanted to ask about was the extended health benefits. I note that the cost went up from 13 to 16 last year and continues to be 16 this year. So my understanding of the original reason they brought about the HB changes was to save money. So how did we end up with the program that costs more?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Perhaps with the last minute that we have, I could just ask for a bit more clarity there. What I was asking is, you know, once we've established a new contract, is that fixed for a certain period of time where we're going to see the costs as fixed, or is it something that -- because it sounded to me like the reason the costs went up significantly is because we negotiated a new contract which hadn't been renewed in ten years. So does that ten-year contract have fixed costs, and does the new one have fixed costs? So what I am asking is is this going to increase year over year...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think just a piece of feedback as you prepare that report, I mean it would be very helpful for us to understand what success was supposed to look like in the beginning -- or to begin with. I -- throughout the process of developing that new policy, we got a lot of feedback, negative feedback, from residents who didn't want to see the policy changed. I can't say I heard from anybody who was excited that the policy was changing so that they would be able to access benefits. And so I am curious what we're defining as success in terms of implementation of this program. So...

Okay. So if I heard the Minister correctly, she's saying that we have received more money to offset the costs of administering this program. Can the Minister -- and the Minister can confirm that for me in her answer, but I am also wondering -- I mean, the goals kind of shifted as this program came about. So have we -- have we got any stats on program implementation? I think it's been, if I am -- about a year since the policy changed at least. Does the Minister have any information for us on what's changed, who's accessing the program, what people -- benefits are like now that the program's in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this weekend, I attended the second annual Still Dark Music Festival which takes place in the heart of Yellowknife's downtown. The festival was established by a dedicated group of volunteers who were looking to help people through the dark months of winter when most of us aren't getting out as much, and it has quickly become one of my favourite events of the year.

My favourite aspects of this festival are how it highlights and celebrates both local artists and venues, and it's really clear from this year's festival that the Yellowknife's music scene is...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's an exciting development so amazed at how fast we've been able to move on this issue in the short ten minutes I've had. So thank you for the detail there. I do appreciate that and will just say, I mean, I am going to continue to advocate for midwifery as I already said, so. I am going to leave it at that for now and maybe cede the floor to another Member and will let you know if I have some further questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, that's exactly what I was looking to find out, and I appreciate the answer on that. So it sounds like we're going to have to do a bit of commitment for a follow-up there. But in that commitment, I'd appreciate them helping us understand why the funding wasn't spent as well. You know, I've raised midwifery pretty much every sitting since the beginning and, you know, have some constituents who are very passionate about it and so will continue to do so. And so I am just wondering, you know, there was a controversial budget cut a few years ago where midwifery...