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Back to the drawing board

Another look at deficit reduction

Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 03/00) - Stanton Regional Hospital's administration and board of directors now have to look at other ways to reduce its $1.3 million deficit.

Dennis Cleaver, Stanton's chief executive officer, said the hospital will work closely with the Department of Health to find solutions to lower the deficit.

"They have developed a good understanding of Stanton's financial circumstances so we need to work with them to make sure that they're part of the solution..." he said.

As hospital administrators and board members begin budget planning for the next fiscal year, Cleaver said there also needs to be an open consultation process with staff members to determine how dollars can be saved.

The timeline for eliminating the deficit will be determined when meetings commence with the Department of Health.

As for the process, Cleaver said after the staff is consulted, the health board will then submit recommendations to the Department of Health for review.

"Depending on what the advice is from the staff of the Department of Health then the minister has a role in supporting or not supporting what has been proposed by the health board," he said.