Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this Legislature and the cabinet of the Keewatin Regional Health Board's response to the Minister of Health's directive regarding the expenditure management initiatives. The board has proposed seven recommendations that, if approved, would not only realize significant reductions in long-term costs of delivering health and social services to the region, but also dramatically improve the delivery of these services to the region. I believe a copy of these recommendations is already in the hands of the Minister.
I need not remind you, Mr. Speaker, that this year has been a very difficult one for the Keewatin Regional Health Board. The region has been drastically hit by various disease outbreaks, including the E-coli and red measles. I am sure Members will join me in congratulating the Keewatin Regional Health Board for their excellent work in dealing with these problems.
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Thank you. It is all the more impressive that they have also found the time to discuss and develop strategies to improve the cost efficiency of the delivery of the health care system in the Keewatin while dealing with these difficult problems.
Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling these proposals at the appropriate time today. I would also like to give notice to the Minister of Health that I will be very interested to know what steps his department has taken to implement these recommendations, when the House reconvenes in February. Thank you.
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