Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I feel that as the Minister, it would have been difficult to approach the situation without the kind of expert advice, without the kind of data the Cuff review team is collecting, to take an 'This is what I think' approach to this problem. I think we need to rely on good, solid information and recommendations from people who are experts in this field.
As to Mr. Miltenberger's comments about what I am doing right now, we have been very proactive. Last fall, I requested the territorial Audit Bureau to conduct an audit on the pay and benefits function in selected health and social services boards. Those audits are underway and the first report is expected in a few weeks.
As a result of the initial audit findings, an agreement between the department and the board pay and benefits authorities have been transferred to the Financial Management Board Secretariat in the case of one board. I would say that has been something that we have responded to without waiting for the Cuff review to come in.
Also, Mr. Chairman, in December, I established a new clinical oversight function within the department under the direction of the newly appointed assistant deputy minister for population health and clinical services. This will allow the department to provide clinical leadership and more direct support and supervision to boards in clinical service delivery.
We have already initiated clinical audits in two boards where problems have been identified.
Mr. Chairman, we have been taking action. We have been responding to information as it is becoming available to us. We have not exclusively relied on waiting for the Cuff review to come in. However, I do think that it is better to approach the solution to these issues with the Members on a broad basis, as opposed to piecemeal board-by-board. We need to look at the entire system. Thank you.