Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recognized that a serious problem has existed with respect to delays in the appointment of members to health and hospital boards. This issue was highlighted at the November 21 consultation sessions by a number of board representatives, and was articulated most clearly in the written submission received from the board of management for Stanton Yellowknife Hospital:

"This is a definite area of concern which our board has experienced... The length of time which it takes for an appointment to proceed through the system is extreme. We recognize the Minister has heard our concerns and also are aware that other boards may suffer from this as well.

"The length of time creates problems when only a few members remain to carry on the function of the board. Some committee work does not get accomplished in a timely fashion.

"The time delay also does not present the board in a positive light to its community. Someone will come forth indicating their interest in serving on the board, and by the time the appointment process occurs, the interest may have waned, or the individual receives the impression that they are not wanted and turns their community interest to something else."

Appointments to health and hospital boards have been delayed, in many cases, far too long. The standing committee found it incredible that, at one point in early November, 1992, five of the six boards in the Northwest Territories had membership vacancy rates over 25 per cent. During the same period, the Stanton Yellowknife Hospital board of management was lacking ten of its 15 possible appointments.

The standing committee was also concerned that some quarters appeared to associate the delay in board appointments with a Legislative Assembly motion to postpone filling membership vacancies on all government boards and agencies. This motion was carried on December 12, 1991. It was introduced by the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions through Committee Report 1-12(1) and was intended only to provide a brief review period, without limiting government appointments over an extended time frame. In fact, the motion specifically stated that appointments should be postponed only until March 31, 1992.

There is no reason for any continued delay in making appointments to health and hospital boards. Where board restructuring initiatives are under way, these should be planned well enough in advance that they do not interfere with the ongoing membership status of the board.

The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions is of the opinion that the Minister of Health must take steps to ensure that board appointments are consistently made to fill vacancies. Situations should not be allowed to arise in which board operations are halted because there are insufficient members to carry out the work that needs to be done.