Flin Flon MLA Tom Lindsey questioned Health Minister Cameron Friesen last week about changes to the Northern Patient Transportation Program asking him stop the cuts.  He tabled a freedom of information request that he says shows that this government cut one million dollars from the NPTP escort subsidor and knows this decision was made at the Cabinet table because the information comes from a Department of Health funding letter.  Lindsey added the same freedom of information request shows the NRHA was forced to find an additional 450 thousand dollars in savings from the Northern Patient Transportation Program by making it harder for northern Manitoba patients to get escorts.

Friesen replied they became aware of all kinds of abuses to the program which is why the rules must be enforced to make sure the program continues to be able to have the capacity to respond to those who legitimately need the travel subsidy.