Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Minister is still trying to convince me. She is already preaching to the converted, as people would say. I am not disputing the fact that this is a territorial hospital. I said I agree with that. My understanding is that this was supposed to be a move to improve efficiencies. For example, under the old system every time a doctor grabbed a tray off of the shelf there was a billing fee for that. In those fees were included the insurance for their buildings, for providing care, to put staff at the front desk.
Just a little bit further, the Finance Minister stated that there is an increase in staff to take over some of these responsibilities. When I look at this, there was already staff. There was already a full complement of staff in place dealing with the administration. In fact, there was probably more because each clinic was on its own fighting for its own survival. They probably had their own finance people and so on. Now that we have them under the same roof, would you not think the staff at Stanton Hospital would take over that administration portion?
As well, does every clinic now need its own separate system, so to speak? I initially believed this was to save some dollars, improve the service, and save some dollars. I agree, it is a territorial facility and we need a certain level of doctors in place. You do not have to convince me on that portion. It is just the move and the extra expense we are going to go through in the next few years, as the Finance Minister stated, $3.9 million, or $2.9 million, I think it is.
That is the concern. I agree we need a certain level of hospital expertise to provide to residents of the Territory. How long will it go before we actually start seeing a savings? The concern I have is there is a certain level of service already committed to through the billing that happened in the old system. The fact is, I agree. There is a shortage across Canada for nurses and doctors, but do we expect that to turn around rather quickly? That is where I am coming from. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.