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Metis get full health coverage

Kathleen Lippa
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 10/03) - To the delight of Metis people in attendance at the legislative assembly, the NWT's health minister announced they would receive 100 per cent health benefit coverage starting April 1.

"It's been some time coming," said Michael Miltenberger, minister of health and social services, while seated next to Albert Lafferty of the Fort Providence Metis Council, Rob Tordiff, president of the Northwest Territory Metis Nation, and Robert Turner of the North Slave Metis Alliance.

"It started in 1995, we started on this journey," Miltenberger said.

Metis people, who have been receiving 87 per cent health coverage since 1997, will receive full coverage beginning April 1.

The increased funding will put Metis on par with "their other aboriginal brothers and sisters," said Miltenberger.

The move is funded entirely by the GNWT, the only jurisdiction in Canada to support Metis health to this extent.

It is an important step, said NWT Metis Nation president Tordiff, but there is "still room for improvement."

"The Metis health benefit program is one program," he said, saying there are many other programs for Metis he would like to see addressed by the GNWT, and, in time, the federal government and the GNWT combined.

"We feel that in Canada, and in our case the NWT, there is no reason why Metis people need to be treated any differently than any other aboriginal people," said Tordiff.

Turner of the North Slave Metis Alliance said the Metis have been "waiting a long time to hear the outcome of this."

"It's about time," he said, adding, "we have to continue fighting and pursuing benefits to Metis."

The funding will amount to $200,000 for the period 2003-2004.