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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Health Minister Sandy Lee is accusing regular MLAs of misleading the public on a non-confidence vote they say might stop the implementation of the controversial supplementary health benefits program.

She said a vote of non-confidence against her won't stop the policy from coming into effect April 1.

"I think members of the public shouldn't be misled into thinking that somehow this fancy word, that motion of non-confidence will somehow reverse this policy and members know better," said Lee.

"It's really about political ambition and political gesturing."

At a public meeting held at the Baker Centre on Jan. 15, regular Yellowknife MLAs met seniors without Lee - who was asked not to attend - to listen to concerns about upcoming changes to the benefits program, something many seniors are saying will leave them out in the cold once the government begins approving benefits for health items such as prescriptions.

Talk turned to removing Lee from her cabinet post.

Some MLAs, such as Great Slave's Glen Abernethy, said removing Lee would show cabinet they're serious about their desire to shelve the policy change.

"If she were to go out in the public today and talk to the seniors and talk to the people with a specified medical condition and some of the other people radically affected by this policy change, she would rapidly realize this change is wrong," said Abernethy.

"She's choosing to accuse us of not being reasonable. I argue that the department and the minister aren't being reasonable."

Lee insisted her department consulted with seniors' organizations, including the NWT and Yellowknife Seniors' Societies but Tom Wilson, president of the NWT Seniors' Society said they had very limited, if any, form of consultation on the changes being implemented.

"The end of November 2008 we got a presentation made at a board meeting telling them how it was going to happen," said Wilson.

"We got no consultation as far as we're concerned. We can't believe they are trying to do things on the backs of seniors."

The policy change was approved by cabinet in September 2007 while current Premier Floyd Roland was handling the health portfolio. Current Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger had the health portfolio and was in charge of the review process just before Roland took over the job.

Wilson said he is not out to shoot the messenger, Minister Lee. He wants Miltenberger and Roland held accountable for the change.

"I'd rather hang the rest of them," he said, speaking of MLAs within the current legislative assembly who sat on the15th assembly cabinet and approved the policy change.

"They're the ones who wanted to do this," said Wilson. "We haven't been consulted other than being told. We don't feel that any of this was thought-out enough."

Wilson said the seniors' society have requested a meeting with cabinet for Feb. 4, the return date for the legislative assembly to plead for the new benefits program to be cancelled. They will also present cabinet with a petition which currently has 800 signatures and is growing by the day, according to Wilson.

Yellowknife Seniors' Society spokesperson David Wind said his organization has never been involved in any consultation on the policy change during his years working with them.

Deputy health minister Dana Heide said complaints over gaping holes in the current health plan system led to the changes - primarily to benefit low income residents and people suffering illnesses not covered in the current health plan.

"We went forward with a program that provided overall support for those people that didn't have any support in supplementary health care at all and those people who were disadvantaged because they didn't have the 'right disease,'" said Heide. "We have had complaints around why one disease is covered and why one isn't. FASD and autism, one is supported and one is not and we've been asked over time to correct that."

Heide also noted changes had to be made because the NWT health care plan was a "cadillac" system and the government needed to make sure employers continued to provide benefits programs to employees.

"It's not only a balance of helping those who need help and leaving certain people out but it's ensuring our program isn't richer than employers," he said. "As soon as you have a benefits program paid through tax dollars with a higher level of benefits than an employer has they'd stop providing there and so we have to avoid offloading of employers to us."

Abernethy said he thinks the program's restructuring is going to leave more people struggling to cover medical costs than it will help.

"This proposed supplementary health benefits takes away from all the programs we have in place now," Abernethy said.

"I think you're taking an awful lot of weight to cover a group that I'm not convinced you're going to be supporting those people anyways.

"We're hurting more people than we are helping. I agree we need to do something for low income workers but putting all these other people out is not the right way to do it."

Lee said she stands by the policy change. She said even thought it might not be the most popular move, it will be better for everyone.

"I believe this is a fair and equitable way to go," she said. "It's not the most politically popular way to go but my goal is to look at the long-term sustainability of our health care system."

Territorial government employees who have retired and opted out of the public service health care plan offered to them through their employment with the GNWT can let out a sigh of relief concerning the planned changes to extended health care in the territory.

"Retired GNWT employees will be able to opt back into the public service health care plan they have available through their employment with us," said Debbie DeLancey, deputy minister for the Department of Human Resources. "There is a three month waiting period, but it's a huge thing for people who are concerned about the planned changes."

Those opting back in will not face a retroactive policy with the public service health care plan and will receive coverage for any health issues arising during the period they were not covered.

Residents who apply for the supplementary health benefits will be required to re-apply before Sept. 1 every year.

Abernethy said the concept and principals of the changes are good, but it's just not good enough.

"The fact they are trying to provide coverage to low income working families is good," Abernethy said. "People are concerned about the threshold levels being put in and how they appear to be below the poverty level. Who are we helping if we do that?"

Lee said the government is extending the coverage to where people need it the most.

"It's a choice we have to make," she said. "We can't include everybody on supplementary health benefits. It's discretionary spending territorially and we continue to be more generous than any other jurisdiction.

"We have to continue and look for and help those who need us the most," she said. "The working poor and working families have been ignored and we're trying to bring those up a bit."