Thank you, Mr. Chair. Contribution agreements already require the health and social services authorities to comply with applicable laws and policies and that every payment is conditional of the fulfillment of the authority’s obligations under their agreements.

This clause, I feel, is specific enough to cover what the committee is asking for in the committee’s proposal, but obviously more is needed. What is needed is better enforcement and better monitoring. I’m concerned, or rather, realistically,

withholding funding from an authority is not necessarily the answer. My focus and the department’s focus is on the patient and the resident and the client. It needs to be that.

I think withholding funding from the authority would just create a reduction in delivery of essential programs to clients, so I’m not sure withholding funds is going to get us to where we need to be. Thank you.