"This health care money was supposed to be used to improve health care services and reduce waiting lists," said Mr. Grimes. "The Premier’s recent statements indicate that he plans to spend most of this money on reducing the deficit. This was not the intention of this new money and it should be used in the manner it was intended.

"The federal government has committed to reducing waiting lists across the country. I am sure our federal cabinet representative, Natural Resources Minister John Efford, informed the Prime Minister of the unique challenges faced by the people of our province. John’s experience as a former provincial cabinet minister and representative for a rural area of our province puts him in a unique position to lobby the Prime Minister. It is important that we recognize his part in securing this federal health care funding and his continuing work to ensure Ottawa corrects our historic inequitable position in the Canadian federation. While Minister Efford has not actively been seeking credit for his work on this file, he has proven to be a very effective federal politician for our province and I congratulate him for his efforts.

"Now that Ottawa has secured new health care funding for the province, I hope Premier Williams will spend this money on improving health services as was promised by the First Ministers. Prime Minister Paul Martin’s intention for this funding was not to reduce provincial deficits, it was intended to improve health services and reduce waiting lists. If we do not live up to our commitment now, this could potentially impact future funding arrangements with Ottawa and make the job of people like John Efford, who is carrying our case forward, that much harder. We must follow through on our commitments and spend money where it was meant to be spent.

"With an extra $30-50 million anticipated to come to the province this year, and hundreds of millions more expected over the next decade, I am confident that this province will receive new benefits that were out of reach in the past. Now is the time to make much needed investments in our social programs."