Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My section covers the comments on organizational structure. The second chapter of the Auditor General's report deals with this. Some of the findings included, are very serious. There is a particular issue with respect to the relationship that exists between the Department of Health and health and hospital boards. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions commented on this at some length. I should say that the committee review found almost exactly the same things as our colleagues on the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions. Relations are strained and members of the health system have not been pulling together. What seems to be the root of it is a concern that there is far too much central control. There is much confusion about the roles of health and hospital boards as compared to the role that is played by the department.

There also appears to be some positive things taking place. The standing committee was pleased to see this. The committee was especially supportive of the initiative to develop a master memorandum of understanding. It is felt that this MOU will establish a different framework for how decisions and responsibilities within the health system are carried out. This is fully ensured by motions that have already been passed during the Third Session.

Specifically, I will draw Members' attention to the motion through which this Assembly accepted the principle that boards should be the primary administrative agent and the department should take a more supportive, rather than a directive, role. It should be noted also that there were some witnesses who commented that their working relationship with the Department of Health has greatly improved over the past few months. It is possible that this has to do with direction from Ministers. It is also possible that it has to do with the attention that is being paid to the issue by standing committees, the Auditor General and the Legislative Assembly.

Regardless of the cost, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts is of the opinion that these are positive developments. A little later, we will have some specific motions that may help the process further. There are a couple of additional recommendations in terms of organizational structure that Members wanted the House to consider, even though we did not make specific recommendations.

First, the standing committee received an excellent presentation from the honourable Member for Nahendeh. One of Mr. Antoine's recommendations was that the department should consider decentralizing Mackenzie regional health services, perhaps as the first step forward toward the development of boards or other representative bodies in the Deh Cho and North Slave regions. The committee thinks the suggestion has a great deal of merit and encourages the Department of Health to study it in detail.

The second point is, during the public hearings, the standing committee heard another very clear and thoughtful presentation from a private citizen about shortcomings in the health insurance services regulations. Apparently, these policies penalize people who receive home care treatment. On page 29 of the committee report, the standing committee encourages the department to put a high priority on the re-evaluation and revision of the health insurance services policy and procedure in this respect. Perhaps, there will be an opportunity to discuss these findings further. At this point, I would like to stop so other honourable Members can make any general comments about this section of the committee report. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.