"I am very fearful that this government intends to make some serious cuts to health care services in rural areas of this province. In the district I represent some downgrading of service is already happening. The hospital on Fogo Island that was supposed to open this Spring has not opened yet and when it does, instead of opening 20 beds as originally planned, they will now only open 10. That is a clear example of how this government is reducing services to rural areas of this province."

The MHA says he is also concerned about information he has obtained from a good sources within the Department of Health that the Coronary Care Unit and some of the housekeeping services will be moved out of the hospital in Twillingate. "This type of reduction in services is not acceptable and I don’t think the minister is at all sensitive to the kind of impact these cuts have on the people who live outside major population centres."

The Liberal MHA says comments like those made by the Minister of Health that we are already spending too much on health care in this province damages this province’s ability to make a case to the federal government that more money is needed. "The Premier will soon go to a First Ministers meeting and one of the main issues on the agenda will be the need for increased funds to provide health care services. Rather than claiming we are already spending too much, this province should be making the case that all Canadians have a right to quality health care."

Reid says the approach being taken by the Conservative government is a result of a lack of cabinet representation from rural areas of the province and the general right-wing view of government taken by both the Premier and the Minister of Health.