Yes, and thank you very much for this question on the supplementary estimates.
It is a significant sum. The background here is that this is a program for which we have a base budget that this committee would have seen in the main estimates, but in addition, we go through a process of determining the actual amount that it will take for the program. There are no changes in benefit levels, but we determine as we work through our estimations of, again, what new drugs have come on, and what new mechanisms have been put in place to control costs, as the minister mentioned, we refine the estimates.
In this year, for example, we have new clients who are covered with the implementation of the McIvor decision and the new Qalipu recipients, so we have new individuals who are coming on who are eligible for these benefits. As we refine those estimates, we then come back to Parliament as part of supplementary estimates (B) for the additional funds. That's what the $226 million that you see in the supplementary estimates relates to, which is for the main programs. Our biggest components here would be prescription drugs, medical transportation, dental benefits for eligible clients, as well as vision care, and some other smaller portions. This is for clients who are on and off reserve, first nations and Inuit clients.
That's the reason for the supplementary estimates. It's a continuation of the program. All told, when you combine it with the main estimates, it's a program where we would estimate expenditures to be in the $1.1 billion range this year.