Thank you. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng. Two questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in respect to the CEOs, all boards have them. It is whether or not they are permanent CEOs. There are some right now with some interim CEOs on a short-term basis as they are going through a recruitment drive. In respect to the issue of chief medical officers, I do not have that information with me and I will have to report back on that. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister also earlier stated that they do not get involved in the hiring. Could that be one of the remarks that the Minister made in the Nunatsiaq News where he said he had probably been giving too much autonomy to the boards. Is that one area where he would be possibly taking some of the autonomy back? Thank you.

Can I ask the Member to rephrase his question as you cannot ask the Minister a question about something that is written in the newspapers, to confirm or deny it. Would you like to rephrase, Mr. Henry?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the Minister has made comments to suggest that potentially, boards have had too much autonomy. He has also stated that he leaves the hiring up to the particular boards to do their own hiring. Is this one area that the Minister would consider taking back some autonomy from the boards? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would not phrase it as taking back autonomy from the board. What I would phrase it as, is making an arrangement with the board where we would have a partnership in the selection of a CEO that is going to carry out the responsibilities on behalf of the board and the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned earlier, the Minister has stated that he possibly has given too much autonomy to the boards. If this is one area where he specifically says he may not take that back, which area was he referring to when he suggested that he would be taking some of the autonomy back or may look at taking some of the autonomy back from the board? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do not recall saying that I was going to take back some of the autonomy from the boards. I think, what I have been on the public record as saying is, we may have given them too much flexibility, possibly, in some of the decisions without intervening or questioning some of those decisions more pro-actively. My answer to the honourable Member would be, I think we have to develop a mechanism and a protocol and a memorandum of understanding between the Minister and the chair, between the boards and the ministry, what things can and cannot be done and what type of reporting relationships would take place before any major decisions are made and prior to them being implemented. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been some controversy and consideration in the Baffin region with moving the health services from Montreal to Ottawa. I understand now, over the past week, the discussion has finalized and, in actuality, looking at doing a contract, but there are associated costs with moving from Montreal to Ottawa. I am wondering at this time if the Minister, after the costs are identified over the next weeks, would be willing to rebase the base funding for the Baffin Regional Health Board to help pay for these costs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Ng.

Mr. Speaker, no. I mean, quite frankly, the issue of the potential move in Baffin from services in Montreal to Ottawa was a result of a decision that the board had undertaken to look at the feasibility of that. We urged them, or directed them, quite frankly, to do a detailed cost benefit analysis to make sure that, if nothing else, it is a cost neutral move if they were to finalize this move. I was not prepared, and I am still not prepared to authorize that move unless it proves to be cost neutral. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is the Minister saying then, that if this move is not cost neutral, indeed, it would cost more to move the services from Montreal to Ottawa, the Minister would not give ministerial approval to do that? Is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that is exactly what I just said. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Mr. Speaker, in Montreal, the Baffin Regional Health Board has a facility called Baffin House. The approximate value is over $1 million. If the services are moved to Ottawa, then that house becomes redundant. It would go for sale on the open marketplace. Is it possible the sale of that building, that $1 million or more, could go to the Baffin Regional Health Board to help facilitate the transfer from Montreal to Ottawa? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that would be, of course, part of the cost benefit analysis. As it stands now though, that facility has been paid for by this government. As a result of that, that would have to be taken into consideration in any decision before it is finalized. Thank you.