WHEREAS the Saskatchewan Party passed a resolution that was presented at their March 2010 convention to move towards 100 per cent funding of capital health projects; and

WHEREAS communities that have capital health projects face a considerable monetary burden, while it is not mandatory for other communities that utilize those same facilities to contribute monetarily; and

WHEREAS projects moving forward will provide economic spin-off to the province; and

WHEREAS construction costs continue to rise causing further economic burden and jeopardizing future construction of these projects; and

WHEREAS the communities that can move ahead with capital health projects in the near future are doing so with borrowed money which will restrict these communities for future capital projects therefore not proving to be the economic stimulus they are intended to be;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Government of Saskatchewan to fund 100 per cent of the cost of capital health projects.

Response from Honourable Don McMorris, Minister of Health:

Our government and the Ministry of Health value the input we receive from SARM. A number of communities asked for a new funding formula and we are delivering it. An 80 -20 split lowers financial barriers to the revitalization of health facilities in towns and cities across Saskatchewan.

We look forward to a continued good working relationship in the future as we work towards improving our health care system.