Released on May 31, 1999
As the next step in building and renewing health care, Premier RoyRomanow today appointed Glenda Yeates as Deputy Minister of Health.
"Ms. Yeates is a highly skilled public servant with a great deal of
experience," Romanow said. "She is Saskatchewan's first female Deputy
Minister of Health. I know she will serve the people of Saskatchewan
well. I am asking her to take on a critically important job.
"Ms. Yeates will take charge of our government's largest department
and most important service and assist Minister Atkinson and Associate
Minister Junor in moving forward with an ambitious agenda.
"First, we will complete negotiations with our health providers and
secure final, ratified collective agreements with all our health
unions.
"Second, we will implement the important improvements in health care
provided for in this year's budget including reductions in waiting
times; addressing workplace issues; and improving services.
"Third, over the summer our government will be thinking about the next
steps in health care. We'll be thinking about the lessons learned
from events this winter and where we go from here, building on the
important investments in this year's budget," Romanow said.
Ms. Yeates is currently Deputy Minister of Social Services. She
previously served for seven years as Associate Deputy Minister of
Health. She served in Saskatchewan's Finance and Health
Departments since joining the public service in 1981.
Con Hnatiuk, outgoing Deputy Minister of Health, is moving on to
an important opportunity in the private sector.
Premier Romanow also announced he is appointing Dan Perrins as
Deputy Minister of Social Services. Mr. Perrins previously
served as Deputy Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Skills
Training for five years.
Mr. Perrins has served in the Saskatchewan public service since
1971.
"We are currently engaged in a fundamental reform of our
province's welfare system," Romanow said. "We are making good
progress the number of people on welfare has already been
reduced by over 20 per cent. Saskatchewan is achieving these
results compassionately and in keeping with the generous values
of our province by helping vulnerable families stand on their
own feet. I am relying on Mr. Perrins to work closely with
Minister Van Mulligen to continue this important work."
Premier Romanow is appointing Neil Yeates as Deputy Minister of
Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training. Mr. Yeates
currently serves as Associate Deputy of Finance. He has served
in the Saskatchewan public service since 1981.
"Mr. Yeates will work with Minister Sonntag on our key priorities
in post-secondary education expanding accessibility, improving
quality, and making sure our post-secondary education and
workforce training are doing the job our province requires
helping give our young people a better future right here in
Saskatchewan."
All three appointments are effective July 1st.
"I want to pay special tribute to Con Hnatiuk for his important
contributions as Deputy in our Social Services and Health
departments," Romanow said.
"In Social Services he was instrumental in designing and
beginning to implement some of the most important reforms in
thirty years including the National Child Benefit and
Saskatchewan's Building Independence welfare reform and Action
Plan for Children. Thousands of families and tens of thousands
of children will be the better for his work, in Saskatchewan and
across Canada.
"As Deputy Minister of Health he helped manage a difficult crisis
this spring. He also helped craft this year's health budget
package, which represents the most important reinvestment in
health care this decade.
"I am grateful to Mr. Hnatiuk for his service to our province,
and I wish him all the best in his new position."
The details of Mr. Hnatiuk's new appointment will be announced by
the organization he is joining, in the near future.
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For more information, contact:
Anna Arneson
Media Services
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-0850