Highlights of recent news and public events from Saskatoon Southeast MLA Don Morgan
Transition to Single Provincial Health Authority Underway
Work is underway to consolidate the 12 existing Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) to
a single Provincial Health Authority, anticipated to occur in fall 2017.
“As work begins on the transition, our goal is to ensure implementation occurs
seamlessly and that the needs of patients are always our top priority,” Health
Minister Jim Reiter said. “This is a significant change and there is a lot of work to
be done. Our government is taking a thoughtful and planned approach to ensure
this is done right.”
A transition team is being assembled that will include Ministry of Health, clinical and
health system leaders. The team is tasked with developing a comprehensive plan to
implement the new Provincial Health Authority. Along with a new governance and
management structure, the team will be considering the consolidation of health system
administration and clinical support services, and the potential savings associated with
consolidation. The potential savings associated with consolidation are currently
estimated in the range of $10-20 million by 2018-19.
Examples of potential savings include:


Moving from 12 Boards to a single Board will save approximately $700,000 a
year in Board governance costs.
Approximately $160 million per year is spent on information technology across
the health system (RHAs, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, eHealth
Saskatchewan and 3sHealth). Consolidation of information technology for RHAs
provides the opportunity to save approximately $9 million per year.
A reduction in salary expenses for senior executive level positions across RHAs is also
anticipated. An estimated dollar value will be determined as transition planning develops
a new Provincial Health Authority structure.
“We are in the beginning stages of the transition process, so the potential cost
savings range is a very early estimate,” Reiter said. “There will be costs
associated with implementation in the first year, including some severance, with
savings anticipated to begin in 2018."
“While cost savings will be the product of improved co-ordination and integration
of health care services, it is not the primary objective. The move to a single
Provincial Health Authority is being driven by our government’s continued
commitment to improving front-line patient care for people across the province.”
Fitness Contracts Can Be Expensive
January and February are the two most popular months for people to sign up for gym
memberships and work off all those holiday calories. Too often, consumers run into trouble by
not asking the right questions before signing up for a gym membership.
The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) sees a number of common complaints
about gym memberships every year. These complaints are usually related to
misunderstandings about what is included in the membership package, cancellation processes
if programs or instructors change, and unexpected fees for ad hoc programs or services.
Consumers also have a right to cancel their contract within seven days of receiving a paper
copy and they may also cancel if they get too sick or move more than 30 km away from the
gym.
Fitness contracts are regulated under the Personal Development Services Contracts regulations
of The Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act. Consumers unable to resolve a
dispute with their gym may be able to get help from the FCAA Consumer Protection Division.
If you are having problems with your fitness contract, contact the Consumer Protection Division
toll free at 1-877-880-5550 or by email at [email protected].
Facts and trivia about snow
1. Snow forms from ice crystals. In ice crystals, water molecules line up and form six-sided
shapes. Since snow forms from these crystals, they all have six sides.
2. Scientists estimate the chances of two snowflakes being exactly alike are about 1.1 million
trillion (a 1 followed by 18 zeros). Meteorologists think there are 1 trillion, trillion, trillion
(a 1 with 36 zeros) different types of snowflakes.
3. An average snowflake falls at about 3.1 miles per hour.
4. The fear of snow is called chionophobia.
5. The Inuit language has two basic words for snow, qanik meaning ‘snow in the air,’ and
aput meaning ‘snow on the ground.’ They have many descriptive names for each kind
of snow.
6. When it melts, one inch of fresh snow produces about 1/10 of an inch of water.
7. It’s a blizzard, according to Environment Canada, when winds of 40 km/hr or greater
occur, visibility is reduced to 400 metres or less due to blowing or falling snow, and
these conditions last for at least 4 hours. The Canadian Meteorological Service adds an
additional requirement – a windchill of over 1600 watts per square metre.
Otherwise it’s just a storm.
IT, I Need to Know
Where can I find the sarcasm font on my computer?
The Lottery
Please, Lord, let me prove that winning the lottery won’t spoil me.
Tourist questions at Banff National Park
*How do the Elk know they’re supposed to cross at the “Elk Crossing” signs?
*”So it’s eight kilometres away….is that in miles?”
*”How do you pronounce ‘Elk’?”
*”Is it OK to keep an open bag of bacon on the picnic table or should I put in my tent?”
*Which way to the Columbia Rice Fields?” (Yes they said Rice)
*”When we enter British Columbia do we have to convert our money to British pounds?”
*”We’re on the decibel system you know.”
*”Where can I get my husband really, really lost?”
*”Where do you put the animals at night?”
*What’s the best way to see Canada in a day”?”
*”At what elevation does an Elk become a Moose?”
*”If I go to B.C. do I have to go through Ontario?”
“Saskatoon Southeast Newsletter” is a message from Don Morgan, MLA Saskatoon Southeast. Your opinions are important and
your letters, emails and phone calls on any issue relating to the provincial government are welcomed. Contact Don Morgan by
calling 955-4755, emailing [email protected] or writing Don Morgan, MLA Saskatoon Southeast, 109-3502 Taylor Street East,
Saskatoon, S7H 5H9.
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