Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't enjoy the privilege of serving on that committee, but I am happy to attend if any briefing is arranged. I think the point when the public hears there are problems with the Health Information Act and the Information and Privacy Commissioner publishes reports on it, there is a concern that this needs to get done. If any information could be offered today rather than waiting until a briefing can be offered to the standing committee, it would be very much appreciated.

I will change my question and just ask: one of the things that was recommended was that privacy...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I grant that we may have the right people in place and we may have the right legislation in place. We don't have the right technology in place. The current technology the health authorities use is not equipped to handle the legislative requirements of the Health Information Act. Is there being addressed by the department in a substantial way? Are we replacing this technology? Thank you.

Thank you. Just to be clear, this department's budget is handling the service costs for the hospital? It is not coming from other departments? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Minister has completed the work on the fence, it will be good of him to be able to tell me that today on the floor of the House. I understand he can't, and that's a concern for me. He knows I'm concerned about this issue. The security work that's been going on, the building that he mentioned, that money has been appropriated for that. It still hasn't been spent. We still can't find a contractor. Why? What is the hold-up? Why can't we spend this money? Why can't we get this work done? Thank you.

I'm going to quote from Hansard here from September 27. I quote the Minister saying, "I understand this project is now under construction and that it will be completed by mid-October. It is on course to be completed, as I say, by October, so the project, which I know has been long awaited by residents in the area, should be completed within the next couple of weeks."

Residents are still waiting, Mr. Speaker. What kind of timelines can the Minister give us? These are unacceptable delays.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize John Sabourin, Eli Nasogaluak, and Derrald Taylor. They are three world-class artists from my riding of Kam Lake who work at Frozen Rock Studio. Thank you very much for being here today.

Thank you. The Minister mentioned the potential need to simplify the legislation. Is that something the department is looking into? Will it be part of their legislative agenda for this fiscal year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I was operating under the impression of the most recent report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Her opinion is that the technology is not equipped to handle that. What is the timeline for this work? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the Standing Committee on Government Operations' most recent review of the information of the Privacy Commissioner, it became clear to us that the health system isn't able to support the privacy requirements of the Health Information Act. How does this budget plan to address the deficiencies in the technology that is holding back our legal obligations under the Health Information Act? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under contract services, it looks like there's a 300 per cent increase from the revised 2017-2018 estimates to these documents before us. It looks like the majority of that money, which is a substantial increase to contract services, is going to facility maintenance and support. Can the Minister speak to that, please? Thank you.