MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this fall government released information pertaining to the deficits of the regional health authorities which were reported to be in the millions of dollars at that time. Government had originally asked the health boards to find these service cut, and I think we remember all too well the cuts to lab and X-ray services that occurred in the Province at that time but has since been reversed.

I ask the minister today: Do you still expect these health boards and our health authorities throughout the Province to have balanced budgets this year or are you allowing them now to run a deficit in the current year?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are currently involved in the budget process. As it now stands, Eastern Health will definitely have a deficit this year. It is my understanding that the Western Region will appear to have a balanced budget. Labrador-Grenfell and Central are not totally clear, but they are certainly not in the situation that Eastern is in.

We will not, at this stage, Mr. Speaker, be seeking to reduce any services to save money. We are working with Eastern to deal with the deficit over a period of years.

Essentially, Mr. Speaker, the deficits with Eastern, for example, comes about as a cumulative deficit arising over a number of years. We will, over the next couple of years, work on that. The best I can say at this point, Mr. Speaker, is that we are working closely with the authorities in the budget process.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

If these boards are not cutting services, I ask the minister: How are they finding the money to cover off the deficits? Is this money being granted through the provincial government?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, last year in the budget process it became clear that the regional health authorities were running significant deficits in that they were going over their budget. However there were budget pressures, Mr. Speaker, that, for example, would be unusual.

I will tell the member opposite that I said to the regional health authorities on the H1N1: We do not expect you to find money to deal with H1N1; that is money that the Department of Health will come up with. We are going to work with the authorities and assist the authorities.

I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that the health budget that is currently at $2.6 billion will rise automatically 8 per cent without any new spending. There is an increase in the budget without any new spending.

We are working closely with the authorities, Mr. Speaker. I have met with the authorities; we are having good discussions with them. I expect to be in a position where we will be able to provide them the money they need to provide the services that they are providing. It is one of great co-operation.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Both the Premier and the Minister of Finance have recently stated that current health care spending is unsustainable and changes must be made.

I ask the minister today: Can you clarify these statements and outline to the House and to the people of the Province what agenda government has to move forward with reforming some of these services, or making cuts in the system, based on those comments?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, what we are trying to do with our health care system is to provide a quality of care that is accessible to the residents of this Province, that is of a quality equal or better than that in the rest of the country and that is one that we can look at in terms of the future.

So sustainable, Mr. Speaker, can simply be looked at in terms of money. The sustainability – I, for one, do not think that there is that problem with the sustaining the level of service. The long-term sustainability of the system based on the inherent growth –

MS JONES: (Inaudible).

MR. KENNEDY: Excuse me, Mr. Speaker, if I could finish?

The inherent growth in the system certainly requires more money. I met with a number of officials, hospital officials, in Toronto on Friday past, and the issue that we discussed was the sustainability of the health care system and how we could save money. If I had more time, Mr. Speaker, I could outline, for example, that by changing our purchasing program, and we can save millions of dollars and put into the quality of care.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We know that the Province spends more per capita than any other Province on health care, yet we continue to fluctuate between last place in the country and third last place in the country in terms of performance.

So I ask the minister: If our spending is unsustainable, like the Premier and the Minister of Finance has said, our performance remains very poor in relation to every other province in the country, will you finally commit to a review of the entire health care system in Newfoundland and Labrador?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure where the Leader of the Opposition gets those statistics. The report that was released in the last couple of days shows that essentially, although we are lower than we would like to be, we are there with Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec. We are all within the provision of health care that can certainly be improved, but that is a quality health care.

I can assure the member opposite that I am reviewing all aspects of the health care system. What we did in Flower’s Cove and Lewisporte is an example of how this government continues to respond to the needs of the people. When we made a decision, Mr. Speaker, that was not in the best interests of the people, we changed it. Now, that is what I would suggest to you a government must do.

The review process is ongoing, and we are committed, Mr. Speaker, to providing the best quality of care to the people of this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The minister knows the real changes and reversals in that service came because of a by-election and the outcry of people. It was your minister who stood in this House everyday and said that decision was final for a number of weeks. Mr. Speaker, being equally as bad off as other provinces in the country is unacceptable. I say to the minister, you know the report I am referencing, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, and that report has Newfoundland and Labrador, in the last few months, either in last place or third last place of every province in the country in terms of our performance in health care.

I ask you today minister, based on their statistics, based on the recommendations they make, because they make four or five recommendations in that report, I ask you: Have you reviewed the report and are you prepared to implement any of the recommendations that they have suggested?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

In terms of the way that we approach health care and how I am approaching it as the minister; I am taking a very proactive approach. I am conversing with the people of our Province.

For example, Mr. Speaker, while in Toronto on Friday I met with experts at the University of Health Network where we talked about things like telemedicine and tele-pathology in terms of offering and improving on quality of cancer care. We are looking at hiring a consultant to deal with the issue of wait times so that we can reduce the waiting times, which is a concern, Mr. Speaker, I hear, and I am sure all of the MHAs in this hon. House hear. I met with experts, Mr. Speaker, in terms of the composition and role of health boards who we are looking at doing further work with. I met with individuals, Mr. Speaker, who look at saving money within the system by purchasing, increasing your purchasing power.

So there is no question, Mr. Speaker, that our health care system, we are spending 40 per cent of our budget, but more than that, Mr. Speaker -

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. minister to conclude his response.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are responding to the needs of the people of this Province and we will continue to do so, Mr. Speaker. It is not simply a matter of spending money; it is a matter of increasing efficiency in the system and improving quality of care.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This afternoon I will present a petition on behalf of the residents of Labrador who are looking for improved air ambulance service, especially in response times. The minister recently met with a number of these concerned citizens and I know that he did have an opportunity to speak with them about those particular issues.

I ask the minister today: What will be the scope of the review that you have committed to, and when can we see this particular review completed?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, when I had the privilege of attending in Lab West and announcing the - providing a picture of the new health care centre up there and announcing the tendering process. I met with a family, Mr. Speaker, a very unfortunate circumstance, one that would just tear anyone’s heart out. I also met with a family in Happy Valley-Goose Bay who had concerns about the way the air ambulance system had worked for them.

We have two air ambulances in this Province, Mr. Speaker. One of which is stationed in St. John’s because that is where it is near the neo-natal unit, the second which is stationed in St. Anthony. Now, if the hon. member opposite is suggesting that we move the one from St. Anthony to Happy Valley-Goose Bay or to Lab West, I am certainly willing to consider that.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am absolutely appalled at the fact that the minister would choose to play politics with such an important issue.

Mr. Speaker, in the last number of months there are people in Labrador whose lives have been under threat because of the access to that service. My question to you today, minister, was asking you what the scope of your review is and asking you if you are prepared to investigate the four particular cases of patients who were impacted by these delays to determine what the deficiencies were? Maybe you should be more keen on doing that than playing politics with people’s lives who depend on this service.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, the statistics that I am aware of indicate there are approximately 153 transfers from St. Anthony, but I understand that can relate to other parts of the Province. In terms of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, I think there are 240; in Lab West there are 130 or 140, but significantly more transfers from the Labrador region of the Province.

I met with these two families. In fact, one of the families made it very clear to me that they were very pleased I had met with them considering that the Leader of the Opposition refused to meet with them when she was told of the same.

Mr. Speaker, again, I say to the Leader of the Opposition: Is she suggesting that the air ambulance be –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask the hon. minister to conclude his answer.

MR. KENNEDY: I say to the Leader of the Opposition: Is she suggesting that the air ambulance be moved from St. Anthony to Happy Valley-Goose Bay or Lab West? If she is, please state it and I will take it into consideration?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I hope the minister takes this issue much more seriously than he is demonstrating here today. If he was so moved by the stories of these people that he met with he would be more inclined to find a solution instead of giving smart answers here.

Mr. Speaker, one of the suggestions that was actually made was to establish a trauma team at St. Anthony to improve the response times out of that particular region to dealing with some of these cases.

I ask the minister today: Is he prepared to ensure that that happens in the very near future?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, when I met with these families – I actually met with the Joint Councils of Lab City, Wabush. They requested that the air ambulance system be put in Lab West. I met with the town council in Happy Valley-Goose Bay; they requested that the air ambulance be moved to Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Both of these families requested that it be moved to Labrador. A medical flight services team is a budgetary issue that we would have to look at but it would be wherever the air ambulance is. So, again, I am just asking the member opposite if she can help me out here. Is she suggesting that the air ambulance be moved from St. Anthony to Labrador? If so, Mr. Speaker, we can certainly look at whether or not the medical flight services team would go there with them.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is unfortunate that the only solution the minister sees here is eroding services further and not improving them.

Minister, maybe you could stand today and tell me: Are you prepared to enhance the two services we have in the Province, the one in St. John’s, the one in St. Anthony, by adding a third air ambulance to this Province and basing it in Happy Valley-Goose Bay?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It is my understanding that the cost of a new air ambulance being, I think it is the King Air 350, it is approximately $8 million. It is something that we would look at in the future. What I am indicating, Mr. Speaker, that the residents of Labrador, for whom the member opposite apparently is speaking today, have requested that the air ambulance be moved from St. Anthony to Labrador.

Now, what I am saying, Mr. Speaker, that we are committed to the improvement of the quality of air ambulance in this Province. However, we have two King Airs at this point in time, Mr. Speaker, and one is situated in St. John’s, one is situated in St. Anthony. We use helicopters, Mr. Speaker, we use Air Labrador, and there is a smaller plane that is used in Labrador also. All I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that when I met with the residents of Labrador, they expressed their concerns clearly that they wish to have an air ambulance in Labrador.

Now, Mr. Speaker, there is only so much that we can do here. We are committed to all of the residents of this Province, but I heard the comments loud and clear of the people in Lab West and I heard the comments loud and clear of the people in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There are concerns as well in Port Saunders that the acute care unit of the Rufus Guinchard Health care facility could be shutdown in the near future due to a lack of nurses.

I ask the minister: How did this health care centre get to be so understaffed to the point that they have to invoke closure of their acute care services?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, I think it was October 9 I became the Minister of Health and Community Services. My first step was to fly to meet with the people of Flower’s Cove and then to meet with the people of Lewisporte. I have demonstrated, and this government has demonstrated, Mr. Speaker, a commitment to rural health care.

In Port Saunders, Mr. Speaker, there are currently five registered nurse vacancies at the facility. Mr. Speaker, they are looking at the closure of some acute care beds from December 20, I think it is, until January 4. I can indicate to this hon. House that I directed, through my officials yesterday, that Western Health take all steps necessary to ensure that there is no closure of these acute care beds, and I said: Do whatever it is you have to do to keep those beds open.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We all know in this Province that it was that same minister who sat at the Cabinet table and presided over the original cuts to rural health care in this Province. So you can cut it however you like, we know you were there.

Mr. Speaker, we also know this, that this facility has been going through some real difficulty in the past few months. I ask you, Minister: Prior to yesterday, what efforts were made by you and your government to ensure that these vacancies were filled and that rural health care was provided to people in this community, instead of having them travel hundreds of kilometres to access essential services?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, thank you.

As I am sure the Leader of the Opposition is aware, the role of the minister in the Department of Health and Community Services is to set policy and to provide guidelines for the regional health authorities to implement or operationalize that policy. So, Mr. Speaker, every decision that takes place on the regional health authority is not one that I am aware of. However, once I become aware that there is any possibility of cutting health care services, Mr. Speaker, I act.

I can say to the member opposite that the by-election did not influence what I was doing when I came into this portfolio. What I am looking at, Mr. Speaker, is the provision of a quality of care to the residents of our Province.

Mr. Speaker, during the H1N1, the regional health authorities all worked well together, and what I say to the member opposite, a situation has been identified, I will do my best to resolve it and I have directed the authority to take whatever steps are necessary, Mr. Speaker, to keep these beds open.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The minister can keep saying it, he is trying to convince everyone, but we all know he was at the Cabinet table when you made all the cuts in rural health care in this Province, Mr. Speaker. Gutting services all over Newfoundland and Labrador until the heat came on. The heat came on and they had to get out of the kitchen, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Chair is having difficulty hearing the hon. Leader of the Opposition. I ask members –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

I ask hon. members to my left to hear the question.

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, we know the Member for St. Barbe did not bring forward his issues to the minister on health, we will see if the Member for Trinity-Bay de Verde brought forward hers.

Earlier today it was announced that X-ray services at Dr. A.A. Wilkinson Memorial Health Centre in Old Perlican may not be offered after regular clinic hours or weekends due to a shortage of technologists.

I ask the minister: Is this part of the $1.8 million cuts that was originally proposed for the Old Perlican hospital?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can assure the member opposite that there will be no cuts, as she puts it, in Old Perlican. This is a result of a vacancy, Mr. Speaker, where there was a recent retirement. The X-ray services will now result in no coverage during a period of time, every third weekend and every third night.

Mr. Speaker, however, the member opposite talks about us gutting rural health care; $2.6 billion, the second most money spent in this country, Mr. Speaker, double the budget of a decade ago - and who was in power then? Spending per capita, Mr. Speaker, second only to Alberta. One hundred and seventy-three million dollars over the last five years for new medical equipment, Mr. Speaker.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Seventy-six million dollars, Mr. Speaker, this year alone on health care infrastructure.

When it comes to filling vacancies we will offer whatever bonuses are necessary, whatever signing bonuses, bursaries, the same types of things we are doing with nurses, we will do it in Old Perlican, we will do it in Port Saunders, we will do it in Labrador and we will do it all over this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Leader of the Opposition.

MS JONES: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The minister also should know that because of all the great Liberal initiatives in this Province, their budget has doubled in four years in its entirety throughout the Province, Mr. Speaker. There is more money to spend.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS JONES: Mr. Speaker, let me just ask the minister this -

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MS JONES: Let me ask the minister this question. Under section E in the service delivery model changes that were proposed for the Old Perlican area this is what it said under section E.(1): A review of service delivery options for twenty-four hour on-site emergency services including implications for lab services and diagnostics at Old Perlican, $1.8 million in savings.

So, Minister, is this on the way to taking the service out of that area or when is it going to be fully restored?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker, the letters that the member opposite refers to were written in response to the budget requests last year when we were in the middle of the worst recession that this country had seen since the Great Depression.

Mr. Speaker, I have indicated to the members in this House of Assembly that there will be no cuts as outlined in those letters. What we have here, Mr. Speaker, and what is happening in Port Saunders, but more specifically what is happening in Old Perlican is that there is a vacancy -

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

MR. KENNEDY: Mr. Speaker, Eastern Health has recruited a lab technologist. We will try to find the combined X-ray service, lab technologist that is necessary.

Mr. Speaker, I come back to, however, the amount of money that this government is spending on rural health care. The commitment we have made to the people of Lewisporte, the commitment we have made to the people of Flowers Cove, Mr. Speaker, and we continue to fulfil these commitments. What we will do, Mr. Speaker, we will improve the quality of health care in this Province so that all of our people receive efficient, quality and excessive –

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The Chair hates to interrupt during Question Period, but members cannot ask questions and then shout at the person who is giving the answers.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: I ask other members to be respectful of the person who is providing the answer because the Chair cannot hear the answers being provided as well.

I ask members for their co-operation and understanding that this is Question Period not a shouting match.

The hon. the Member for The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This Province offers three classes of diplomas to graduating high school students: honours, academic and general. While these diplomas generally recognize the various levels of student achievements, in practice they also indicate the academic opportunities available to the students and they reflect local social conditions.

In the 2007-2008 academic years, two out of five students were awarded general diplomas. My question to the minister would be: What plan does government have to target those students to raise the achievement level of more students to at least an academic level?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the question. I am sure the member opposite is fully aware that every single problem that happens in the communities of this Province cannot be attributed to the education system.

I can also say that we have implemented a number of plans, many initiatives through the Poverty Reduction Strategy, which I will not speak for because we have a hon. minister here who could speak to that. We have, by way of a number of initiatives to support a family, we have eliminated school fees, to put money back into hands of parents; we provide free textbooks. We also, Mr. Speaker, work with local communities and local school staffs on school development plans, which are intended to take the assessment results, take how students are doing, the academic achievement levels they have, I say to the member opposite, and assess how we can move forward and put a plan in place that will remediate any potential problems and help students improve. Our focus, Mr. Speaker, is always on doing everything we can for every single individual student in this Province.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of The Straits & White Bay North.

MR. DEAN: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would just say that the reality is a reality. Of the Province’s twenty economic zones, nine have seen increases in the proportion of students given general diplomas. All, but one of these, are rural zones. Eight zones, which are all in rural areas, have a general diploma rate of more than 50 per cent and the education gap is getting wider. So unless these students are provided targeted assistance, we will have another generation of young people where too many will be limited in their opportunities for the future.

My question, again, is: What actions are being contemplated to ensure that everyone has access to the same educational opportunities?

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!

The hon. the Minister of Education.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KING: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I must say, I am really disappointed to hear the member opposite make the kind of insinuations and accusations that paint a very, very negative classist attitude toward people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Speaker, I say. That is not what this government stands for and it is not what we represent. I say to the member opposite, it is also equally distasteful that you would take a very small piece of information and put it out in this House of Assembly, Mr. Speaker, to suggest that students in this Province are not achieving, and achieving well. I say to the member opposite, if he would like information that can substantiate what I am saying here, I can provide the member opposite with all kinds of data on criterion reference tests, on public exam results, on student attendance rates, and student pass rates that will suggest that what the member opposite is saying is factually not correct.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, diabetes is a terrible disease which affects almost 38,000 people in the Province. In the report Diabetes Care Gaps and Disparities in Canada, released this month, it was found that out of the four major tests that diabetics need to maintain good health only 21 per cent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians receive them.

Mr. Speaker, with diabetes being so prevalent in the Province, I ask the Minister of Health and Community Services: Does he know if his department is involved with the health authorities in dealing with these gaps in care, and what type of prevention measures are they developing?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

During the H1N1 situation, Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity – we saw statistics on the chronic disease in this Province, and diabetes is certainly a major problem in the Province. Our wellness strategy, Mr. Speaker, which was released a couple of years ago looks at the issue of wellness in total but also addressing diabetes. There has to be issues, Mr. Speaker, of not only medication, there are issues of lifestyle, including diet and exercise.

I can assure the Leader of the NDP that anything that relates to diabetes in this budgetary process is something I am looking at very closely, Mr. Speaker. Chronic disease management is something that we really have to come to grasp with as a department and as a society.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Member for the District of Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

MS MICHAEL: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the report also revealed that while the prevalence of diabetes is on the rise in the whole country; Newfoundland and Labrador’s rate was significantly higher than the Canadian rate. If the minister has done the homework that he said, and I am sure he has, he is aware of that.

Mr. Speaker, government has made some enhancements to the diabetic pump program to include coverage for all persons living with Type 1 Diabetes who are medically prescribed the insulin pump therapy. However, these enhancements need to include coverage for glucose monitoring strips for the pumps as well as better access to rapid acting insulin which currently requires special authorization under our medical care plan.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the minister: Will government increase access to fast acting insulin and cover the insulin pump strips under the Newfoundland and Labrador Drug Prescription Program?

MR. SPEAKER: The hon. the Minister of Health and Community Services.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. Speaker. One of the areas for which our government has received extreme thanks from the public has been the issue of the insulin pump. That has been very well-received, Mr. Speaker, and has been a great initiative.

Mr. Speaker, we are aware of the issues facing diabetics in our Province. Again, as I can indicate, I saw the statistics during the H1N1 and they were certainly of grave concern. Anything that we can do to enhance the lifestyle of the people of this Province, including those who suffer from diabetics, Mr. Speaker, is something that we will continue to look at. If there are any new medications that can come under the Drug Prescription Program, we are certainly willing to look at them.

I say to the member opposite, Mr. Speaker, that we are willing to take whatever steps are necessary. Any suggestions she has, Mr. Speaker, I am certainly more than willing to consider in the budget process.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear!

MR. SPEAKER: Order, please!