In the midst of the close of the spring legislative session, Estevan MLA Doreen Eagles said there will be news on the CT scanner front.
City and health officials in the city and across the southeast region have been lobbying the province for several years regarding the necessity of CT scanning equipment in St. Joseph's Hospital, and Eagles said last week there will be an announcement in just a few weeks.
"We've been having a lot of discussion regarding the CT scan, and in the next two to three weeks we will know for sure what's happening with that," said Eagles, noting the announcement will outline whether Estevan will receive the scanner or not. "There's not a person in this world who wants a CT scanner in Estevan more than I, and I've been talking ad nauseum to anyone who will listen to me."
While many in Estevan eagerly await any decision from the province, the last legislative assembly session wrapped up on May 15, and the word from Regina regarding health care is Lean,
"I think that regardless of where Lean is instituted, whether it's in health care or where it is, we have to look for efficiencies," said Eagles. "We've already seen more savings than the program has cost. Whether you're government or on my farm, whoever we are, we're always looking for efficiencies in what we do."
The opposition NDP considers the implementation of Lean into Saskatchewan's health-care system as more of a "pet project" than a move toward efficient patient care. In a release the NDP said the government's statistics indicate health care is getting worse.
"With more and more concerns being raised about the quality of seniors care, the NDP pushed the government to fix the basics in health care and seniors care, instead of investing well over $100 million into its Lean pet project," the party said.
Eagles said looking for efficiencies continues to be an important part of the Sask. Party's direction to provincial service providers.
"Why do things that overlap and don't make sense. It's not our own money we're wasting it's taxpayers' and we always have to be mindful of that," said Eagles. "(Broten) wants efficiencies, but he's against Lean. But whatever idea anyone comes up with, if you aren't NDP, the NDP leader is firmly against it."
One area in which they are saving, said Eagles, was in provincial blood banks. She said where they used to discard blood, now they aren't.
"Through Lean efficiencies waiting lists have decreased," she added.
NDP leader Cam Broten suggested the government's attention toward Lean has only taken resources away from the basics that people have come to expect the province to provide.
"Unfortunately, for Saskatchewan families, this government's obsession with pet projects means it is continually neglecting the basics and failing to focus on what really matters," said Broten. "The government should be focusing its resources on fixing health care, seniors care and education, instead of pouring untold millions into consultants and flavour-of-the-day management programs."
Eagles dismissed his criticism, noting there are still programs to handle basic needs and other health-care programs, geared toward things like doctor recruitment, aren't being cut for Lean.
Aside from health care, this area is in dire need of updated infrastructure, namely roads, and while Highways 39 between Estevan and Macoun is scheduled for new pavement, construction and pre-construction work continues on the heavy-truck bypass and the twinning of Highway 39 from Estevan to Bienfait.
Eagles said for the twinning portion, the early work is ongoing with environmental assessments, land acquisition and engineering. She said there probably won't be shovels in the ground this year, but the ball is rolling.
One of the looming questions for Eagles is whether or not she will continue to seek office as a representative of Estevan at the legislature. While other MLAs recently expressing their intentions to seek re-election or not, the Estevan MLA is continuing to ponder her future.
"This is probably one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life," she said. "I've heard rumours around town that I am retiring, but in all honesty, I haven't made up my mind. There's so much more I want to do for the Estevan Constituency. It's tough to say I'm just going to leave now."
Eagles said she will make the decision this summer, because if she does decide not to run, she wants to make sure there is ample time for the next Sask. Party candidate to familiarize themselves with the constituency.
