Politics with Murray Mandryk
Page 14 - JANUARY 19 , 2017 - mARteNsville messeNgeR
Provincial
Politics with Murray Mandryk
One Health Board May Be Better Off
There are some things about the proposed changes to health governance in Saskatchewan that rural people may dislike . Or at least , they may dislike them until they can be convinced that one health authority addresses problems in the system that the current 12 boards couldn ’ t address .
The first pronouncement of Premier Brad Wall ’ s government in 2016 was a big one . It was a call for the reorganization of the current 12 health regions into a single province-wide health authority . Unfairly , rural Saskatchewan people are sometimes labelled as ‘ resistant to change ’. Virtually no other Canadians have seen as much disruption to their communities , economies and very way of life as Saskatchewan rural folk - who have had to adapt to dwindling communities caused by the mechanization of farming . That being said , there are times when rural people have fought hard against changes to their governance structure .
It lobbied , intensely , against the mere suggestion of changing the existing system of 296 rural municipalities , and opposition to such change hasn ’ t always been completely rational . That said , while there is a 111-year attachment to the existing rural municipal system , the same can ’ t be said about the short life span of the existing 12 health districts . In fact , since the demise of the myriad of local hospital and ambulance boards a quarter century ago , the current 12 health regions has often been considered the worst of both worlds . Regions are too small and powerless to take on the power of government . However they were often too big to represent concerns in specific local communities . Moreover , if one looks at the borders for the regions , they simply don ’ t make any sense . Sticking Moosomin in the Regina Qu ’ Appelle Health Region reflects the holus-bolus nature of regions that did not reflect trading areas or neighbouring communities . The complaints of overpaid , local administration and endless bureaucracy have been
Justin Trudeau is well-armored for tour of Alberta endless .
Of course , it ’ s questionable whether the new There is also the fear that when a government talks about single authority governance model will achieve the “ amalgamation ” in health care , it may be talking about hospital “ significant savings ’ that Health Minister Jim Reiter closures like the 1992 closure of 52 rural hospitals under the talked about when he announced his government Roy Romanow government . However Reiter was adamant that was accepting his independent advisory panel . While what his Sask . Party contemplates “ is not a consolidation of the Reiter did cite savings in information technology , frontline health care ”. If that doesn ’ t do rural people solace , there payroll , procurement and less board management , his are other things emerging from the panel recommendation that government could only quote a $ 10 to $ 20 million should . The panel ’ s work was largely predicated on the notion savings on board governance by 2018-19 . that all people in Saskatchewan , regardless of where they live ,
More recently , the government added that the should be entitled to equal health care access . With inequitable health department spends an estimated $ 160 million boards , that didn ’ t always happen . For example , one of the key on information technology including the IT system for areas addressed in the panel ’ s recommendations is consistency the current health regions , the Saskatchewan Cancer in ambulatory care . Currently , some towns don ’ t have access Agency and eHealth . However , its consolidation would to paramedics because the health region has deemed that a less only produce savings of about $ 9 million a year . In total , affordable expense . Of course , there are worries . It would help that amounts to less than $ 30 million in savings , a drop to have had independent health ombudsman to arbitrate , but a in the bucket in a health system that is costing us $ 5.7 single authority mandated to ensure equality may better address billion annually . such issues . One board may very well just be better than 12 .
Martensville Information & Visitor Centre Presents to City Council
Shanine Sealey , Martensville Messenger
At the Tuesday , January 10th City of Martensville Committee of the Whole meeting , representatives from the Martensville Information and Visitor Centre ( MIVC ) spoke to City Council . Board members Lori Morphy ( President ) and Brad Blixt ( Treasurer ), along with staff member Kristee Lynn Adrian spoke to City Council about potential funding for 2017 . The MIVC , formerly known as the Martensville Community Access Centre , is a non-profit organization that works as the ‘ hub ’ of our community by offering a wide variety of services , information , assistance and more .
During their presentation , the MIVC representatives presented an overview of the Centre ’ s successes and growth throughout the past eight years , and also shared their vision for the future . In upcoming years , the MIVC aims at expanding in various areas including ; increasing resources and information available within the Centre , partner with City of Martensville , Tourism Saskatoon and Tourism Saskatchewan to develop a local visitor information centre for area residents , support and develop partnerships with local businesses and Martensville Chamber of Commerce , continue to develop resources to support local jobs , increase awareness and exposure of the MIVC within the community and expand their hours to provide information and services outside of regular business hours when City Hall is closed .
First founded in 2008 , the MIVC has continued to grow and offer more services to the residents of the community by receiving funding through various grants , fundraising events and personal donations . In 2015 and 2016 , a partnership was formed between the MIVC and the City of Martensville to have funding provided for administrative requirements within the Centre . The representatives from the Centre requested that Council once again provide funding for administrative needs for 2017 . As the request will need to be discussed during City of Martensville budget deliberations , a decision will be made at that time and the MIVC will be notified .
For more information about the MIVC , visit www . martensvilleinfo . ca , contact ( 306 ) 242-0362 or stop in at the Martensville Civic Centre , located at 66 Main Street in Room # 2 .
ABOVE : Representatives from the Martensville Information & Visitor Centre presented to Martensville City Council during the January 10th Committee of the Whole meeting . From L to R : Brad Blixt ( MIVC Board Treasurer ), Lori Morphy ( MIVC Board President ) and Kristee Lynn Adrian ( MIVC Staff Member ). ( Ciara O ’ Reilly )
Letter to the Editor
The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication . Letters must be signed and a phone number and / or email address included so the writer ’ s identity can be verified . ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger . We reserve the right to edit letters for length , clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste . Submit your letter to ssealey @ martensvillemessenger . ca or jottenbreit @ martensvillemessenger . ca or drop by the Martensville Messenger office at Bay # 7 - 301 Centennial Drive North .