ALBERTA HEALTH

Office of the Minister

AUG 28 1997

Ms. Yvonne Schmitz
2621 - 36 Street SW
Calgary, Alberta
T3E 2Z7

Dear Ms. Schmitz:

Thank you for your letter of August 2, 1997 regarding the Health Resources Group. The Premier has discussed your concerns with me, and I am responding on his behalf.

You should be aware that HRG has committed that all of its proposed Operations will be within the requirements of the Canada Health Act and will focus on services in such areas as non-insured services (those not covered by the public health system) and "third party' insurance programs (such as Workers Compensation Boards).

At the same time I have made a firm commitment as Minister of Health to closely monitor any plans and operations of HRG to ensure that they do not contravene the principles of the Canada Health Act nor have a negative impact on our public health system. Through these actions I will ensure that Albertans continue to have access to a quality public health system in this province.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to write, and for your support for a strong publicly funded and administered health system in Alberta.

Yours sincerely.

Halvar C. Jonson

Minister

cc: Honourable Ralph Klein Premier

228 Legislature Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada TSK 2B6 Telephone 403/427-3665 Fax 403/429-5954