The provincial government recently announced changes to the Northern Patient Transport Program.

While many are criticizing Pallister's Tory government, Thompson MLA Kelly Bindle took to Facebook to set the record straight. He said in a post that there is no change for both patients and escorts in the NPTP, provided that a doctor deems it medically necessary for both the patient and escort to travel by air.

He added that the only change is that escorts are not eligible for the flight subsidy if the patient was authorized by their doctor for land travel, but opted to upgrade to air travel.

The government will still be subsidizing the cost for both the patient and an escort if it is deemed necessary by the doctor authorizing the travel.

MKO Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson said she reacted with shock and disbelief to the change as this is an essential service that people that don't have other means of getting health care should have access to. She added that this will especially affect First Nations people who do not live on reserves, as those on reserve have access to Federal funding for medical travel.  

The opposition NDP says that the move is regressive and short-sighted.

The Provincial government estimates that the change will save about $1,000,000.00 per year.