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DEH CHO - Concerns about changes to health care benefits have been added to the list of constituents' issues that Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche will be taking to the legislative assembly.

Menicoche completed a community tour around his riding at the end of January, prior to returning to Yellowknife for the next session of the legislative assembly, starting Feb. 4. Many longstanding issues including the cost of living, high power and heating fuel prices and the accessibility of housing programs dominated the public meetings in the small communities, said Menicoche.

In Fort Simpson the focus of the meeting on Jan. 27 was on a new issue. The majority of the eight residents who attended the event were there to voice concerns about the government's proposed changes to extended health benefits and how they will affect seniors.

The new supplementary health benefits program and the catastrophic drug costs program seem like a tax on elders and seniors, said Sean Whelly.

It's questionable how much cost savings the changes would produce because the territory has a relatively young population, Whelly said. Any changes to the existing benefits will make 40- to 50-year-olds consider moving south for their retirement, he said.

Under the new plan supplementary health care benefits would be given on a two-tier level based on family size and annual income. Supplementary health care includes items such as prescription medicine, medical equipment, dental care and vision care that aren't typically covered under territorial or provincial health care plans.

Deborah Stipdonk is worried that the changes could lead to larger health-care problems. Stipdonk said most of the seniors she knows don't go to the doctor unless they have to. If they knew they'd have to pay for certain services seniors might put off going to see a doctor resulting in medical complications and increased costs, she said.

"It discourages people from taking a proactive, early look at maintaining their health," said Stipdonk.

Changing the benefits also goes against the cultural rule of respecting elders, she said.

"It's a benefit that's been hard worked, hard won by many people," Stipdonk said.

Peter Shaw had stronger words, saying "We're mad as hell and we're not going to put up with it," said Shaw. "If you don't like it we'll leave."

Menicoche said he's also concerned about the new programs. If the changes are designed to save money there must be other ways of getting the necessary funds to provide health benefits to residents who don't currently receive them, he said.

"There must be a better way and I'm willing to go to Yellowknife with that stance," he said.

On Feb. 2 Sandy Lee, the minister of Health and Social Services, announced that the implementations of the programs will be delayed until Sept. 1, 2009 instead of the original date of April 1. Menicoche said the deferment hasn't changed people's concerns and that he will continue to press for alternatives.

Other issues Menicoche plans to bring to the assembly include the high costs of living and the inability of residents to access housing programs.

When the guidelines for threshold incomes for the programs were changed approximately two years ago many residents were put in a position of earning too much or not enough money to qualify for the housing programs, said Menicoche.

"It's creating frustration. We're building homes and people are not accessing them quickly enough," he said.

Menicoche advocates a return to the former guidelines, or a similar system, where there was some flexibility allowed for both high and low income residents. Menicoche said he will also bring forward Fort Liard's goal of having a local housing authority to provide social housing.

As a long-term project, Menicoche said he would also continue to press for the chipsealing of Highway 7 in the capital plan.