The NDP government has been under fire for expanding the Province’s health care administration costs, including the bureaucracy at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, which now occupies seven floors of a downtown Winnipeg office building. The WRHA is the largest regional health authority in Manitoba and employs a Chief Executive Officer who was paid $358,923.00 last year, plus 6 vice presidents, 95 directors and managers, 31 coordinators, 63 administrative assistants, and many clerks and other workers. In addition, there are other well-paid bureaucrats at Winnipeg’s hospitals and long-term care facilities, including many more presidents, chief executive officers, executive directors, vice presidents and other managers.

All of these managers, and all these associated administrative costs, yet the Premier was insisting last week that health care administration costs were dropping in Manitoba. Those that work in our health care professions, and indeed, those who have been served in our health care system know this is not true. I only hope the Premier would open his eyes to reality. Health care costs have skyrocketed, and a great deal of those increased costs have gone into administration. Instead of increasing administrative costs, those extra dollars should have been spent for front line workers – those health care workers who deliver our health services, and those who make a difference in our care and in our quality of life.

The statement made last week by the Premier has about the same level of credibility as statements he made earlier this year that there are “zero” patients in emergency room hallways. Not only was he wrong then – he is also wrong now!