CALVERT SAYS HEALTH COUNCIL IMPORTANT TO CANADIANS

Premier Lorne Calvert supports the national Health Council as agreed to by Health Ministers and believes it is consistent with what was agreed to at the February First Ministers Meeting with Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

"A national Health Council would provide accountability to all Canadians for our national Medicare system," Calvert said. "The Health Council is an important element of the Romanow Report. Our government supports the formation of a national Health Council that is independent, effective and accountable to the people in our province and across the country."

Calvert said Canadians support a national Health Council which would be accountable to citizens as governments make reforms to the health care system.

"In Saskatchewan we established the first health council in Canada – the Health Quality Council more than a year ago," Calvert said. "This council does not replace the need for a national Health Council. It would continue to operate in addition to a national Health Council. Canadians count on a national Medicare system which they can rely on from coast, to coast, to coast. A national health council plays the important role of informing Canadians about the performance of the Medicare system."

Premier Calvert made the statements as the Annual Premiers' Conference concluded in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Communiques from the Annual Premiers' Conference are available on the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat website at www.scics.gc.ca.

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