A report prepared by the Winnipeg Health Authority in 2003 indicated that the number of surgical procedures must increase to meet the demands of an aging population in Manitoba and to meet the demands of those who require dialysis and cancer surgeries. However, under the NDP, nearly 4,500 less major surgeries were completed in Winnipeg last year, compared to the number of major surgeries performed in 1999. This number represented a reduction in major surgeries of almost 10% from the time the NDP became the government in Manitoba in 1999. This reduction comes at a time when health care spending has gone up by more than $1.5 Billion over 1999 levels. We are spending more, but getting less! This proves the point that it’s not how much you spend that matters – what matters is how you spend the money that you have! Instead of demanding results for health care spending, we have a government that is content with throwing more money into a system without asking for results. This is just another clear example of NDP mismanagement, and as a result, thousands of Manitobans are forced to wait even longer for treatment every year. Under the NDP, there have been 1,000 fewer gynecological surgeries, which include surgery on cancer patients. Manitobans are being denied timely access to care when they need it.