Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question to the Minister of health is about a health envoy. Now, I am not sure we need a senior health envoy. I don't know if we can afford a senior health envoy. But, Mr. Speaker, many people will tell me that their service response or service standards aren't being met, which is they go out, there's disconnect on timing, people delayed getting back to them, whether it's phone calls or emails, and the fact is they feel stranded and alone and there is the panic and frustration and hence that's why we're talking about it today, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in short...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I know of one policy that's been reviewed or could be referred to as an ongoing living document, it would be the medical travel modernization process. I can go back to memory of 2004 I was talking about it.

Mr. Speaker, my questions should -- if they're not aware yet who I am asking, I am asking the health Minister.

Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement today I talked about asking for an exit interview; in other words, people who go through the medical travel process, acknowledging formally right now most will probably not be a problem and they'll say it was...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not a software engineer, but this appears, from my understanding and research, is it's simply just a software program issue, not a medical Act issue. Maybe it's an attitude issue. Maybe people don't want to do it this way. I don't know, Mr. Speaker. The question is really built around can the Minister make a decision in the House that this will be implemented before the end of this calendar year 2026 to give the public service something to work towards to. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And my happenstance, she led right into the last question I was going to have, so I will take those circumstances as a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, in the medical travel policy -- and for those following along, on page 4 -- it says the attending physician basically can prescribe and recommend a non-medical escort to participate in the treatment program of the individual. Mr. Speaker, in short, why is a policy maker somewhere behind the scenes -- acknowledging these requests have to be pre-approved -- I am acknowledging that. But why is a policy maker behind the scenes...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have more questions for the Minister of health with respect to the medical travel challenges, more particular to the escorts.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to give certainly her a softball question, and this is the very first one so we can get right down to the nitty-gritty. She's been hearing how our concerns are.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister speak to this House to help everyone understand the barriers, the challenges of the medical escort policy, and the approval process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Minister. I mean, she says it's a very nice report. I guarantee you I bet it has a nice cover, etcetera. Mr. Speaker, the problem with this is the disconnect of the actual -- the report into action.

Mr. Speaker, is there a way to implement some of these results or recommendations earlier? Because if we all wait for medical travel to be repaired or fixed or modernized or whatever semantics we want to use, Mr. Speaker, the end of times are probably closer than this report being covered and then finally implemented. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like some of my other colleagues, we have frustrations with medical travel. For many residents of the NWT, though, the promise of equitable health care is a broken one.

Medical travel programs were designed to be a bridge to specialize care but instead, Mr. Speaker, often constituents tell me it feels more like a barrier. From staggering out to these convoluted policies, expenses to a labyrinth of confusing unanswered calls, Mr. Speaker, the system becomes so convoluted that you almost need a navigator for your navigator to navigate through the process, Mr. Speaker.

The...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know I am not the only person who's asked this question. I know my colleague from Range Lake has asked this question about where this software is. Did the Minister just say in some way -- and I will allow her to clarify -- is the public service saying no? Are they refusing to do it? Are they refusing to take directions? Can the Minister at the very least commit in this House that she'll have this so-called analysis produced before the end of the second quarter of this current year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are again to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, on the weekend I was reminded by a Member of our community -- happens to be a senior -- and they were saying to me that how they wish they could book their health appointments online. They mentioned the last time they were uncomfortable standing up, getting there early and having to stand and wait at the door to squeeze in, and when they try to call, the fact is no one answers until after 8 o'clock and hence all the appointments are gone by then, Mr. Speaker, which they said begs the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the corporation is the only game in town. So I'll give two clear -- we have the land titles system that has an assurance program. They're responsible in case there's a mistake in the system that has impacts. Mr. Speaker, the auto industry takes responsibility when something goes wrong and they try to make it right, Mr. Speaker. And lastly, Mr. Speaker, I am suggesting an insurance program of some sort that creates reimbursements for no -- for damaged equipment and operating loss credits of some form, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister be able to look at these...