Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, what we are in a broad sense moving towards is the goal of a comprehensive human resource strategy that will address the human resource requirements for the whole health and social services system. A key component of that is the Recruitment and Retention Program.
As it was initially designed, it applied to doctors and nurses where we came up with the idea of temporary supplements for the nurses. Very clearly it has been determined that there are impacts to that which are system-wide in terms of the way it is perceived, the optics, the determination of value that other professions may have by not being given the same kind of monetary consideration.
The boards have identified this along with the department as our number one priority. The joint senior management committee is looking at this, which comprises of the board CEOs and the senior management of the department. They are reviewing this particular area along with the overall comprehensive human resource strategy.
We are also anticipating that the issue of supplements will be dealt with through the collective bargaining process as the UNW and the bargaining unit brings it forward as an issue that they want to see addressed as well in the processes that they have available to themselves.
We are taking the steps to put this plan in place. We already have a system that is operational but we recognize that it needs to be better coordinated and it has to be more comprehensive and that is what we intend to do. Thank you.