Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Minister is aware, I've had some concerns about the arrangement that has been set up with the Royal Alexandra Hospital as a point of

referral. The Minister has dealt with many of the concerns that I've expressed. Since I last asked a question about this, though, the Royal Alexandra has announced further cuts to staff. I would like to, again, be assured that the Minister is confident that patient care will be at the level which people are used to. It would appear to me that in a system under seige -- which is what the Alberta system appears to be -- if you're cutting staff as extensively as they are in these hospitals, that the quality of patient care has to suffer.

I know from recent experiences in a hospital down south and talking to the staff where there had been serious cutbacks, they confirmed that they felt there had been a deterioration in patient care. I know, speaking from personal experience, that my wife was certainly happy that she was able to spend 12 hours a day in the hospital to ensure that really good care could be provided to a member of our family. I would just like the Minister to advise how it is that they're examining just exactly how these cuts Alberta is undergoing now will affect the standards of patient care?