Planned health-care cuts driving some from N.W.T.

Plans by the Northwest Territories government to change extended health benefits won't just hurt seniors, says the father of a disabled child who may have to leave the North for better, more affordable coverage.

Jim Boylan added his voice to growing public opposition to the government's plans to restrict extended health-care coverage only to those who pass an income means test.

One of Boylan's two children has cerebral palsy. Jonas, 3, is in a wheelchair, suffers from seizures daily and needs to be fed through a tube that goes into his stomach.

Boylan, who lives in Yellowknife,said he currently works two jobs, meaning his income would betoo highfor himto qualify for extended health benefits once the changes take effect April 1.

"Our two options are to basically to sell my house, quit my job, go live in [public] housing and let them cover everything.At that point, we'd be better off doing that than continuing to work. In actuality, we would have to leave the North," Boylan told CBC News in an interview that aired Tuesday.

"I love it here. I've lived here 15 years, my wife was born and raised here. [But] we won't have an option. We will have to leave."

Boylan said one of his employers' health plans will continue to cover the drugs Jonas needs, but it would not cover equipment, surgeries and other costs currently covered by the territorial government's extended-care plan.

"For his food and his basic disposables such as Mic-Key buttons which is the button that goes into his stomach and the tubes and the bags and all that kind of stuff, would probably be close to $15,000 per year," he said.

"Now, if we need any equipment for that year, it would be anything on top of that."

Seniors in the territory are also outraged by the government's plan, with some also threatening to leave the North if the changes go ahead.

Boylan said some friends of his who also have disabled children and have moved to Albertawill have better and more affordable health coverage than hewill have in the N.W.T.,should the changes go ahead.