I am talking about the Wait Time Alliance. The member from the NDP raised it and mischaracterized the wait times.
Let me quote from their press release. It said:
Significant changes from last year's WTA Report Card on progress toward implementing the 2004 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care are:
- Access indicators: the grade changed from an "incomplete" in 2007 to a C+ in 2008.
- Benchmark targets: the grade increased from a D in 2007 to a C+ in 2008.
- Wait time information: the grade increased from a C in 2007 to a C+ in 2008.
The trend is moving forward. We're moving up. I am sure we are going to see even more progress. But the key is that there's progress. From nothing we have something, and we have a future.
So I have three questions for the panel. One is, I would like you to talk a little bit more about the Wait Time Alliance, and I would also like you to talk a little bit about the funding, the $612 million, for wait times. And there was base funding, and I wonder, how many provinces and territories have received base funding.
I also want to follow up with our friend from Quebec.
What was the consequence of the agreement made with Quebec?