Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Peter Lougheed hospital
expansion was meant to add much-needed capacity to an overburdened
health region. This expansion has been turned into simple
replacement. In order to add 140 new beds, another 140 old beds
have to be closed. This is government math that Calgarians are
familiar with and are sick of. To the minister of health: why did you
commit to expandingthe Lougheed without anycommitment toward
operating funds? This makes no sense.

Mr. Liepert: Well, what makes no sense, Mr. Speaker, is that the
member is making an assumption that may not be true.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When will there be sufficient
operating funds given to this hospital so that an additional 140 beds
will actually translate into an increase in capacity?

Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, any health facility expansion or
capacity increase in this province is part of the annual budget of
Alberta Health Services. I think this member was here when we
passed the budget for our department. Alberta Health Services will
be receiving some half a billion dollars in additional funding this
year, and they will be charged to spend it accordingly.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. Kang: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we are getting mixed
messages here. One day we are expanding the health care system.
Another day we are cutting back.
To the minister again. The Peter Lougheed and the prostate laser
are examples of how out of touch you and Alberta Health Services
are with the citizens of Calgary. When will you begin to listen to
what Albertans are telling you that they need? Mr. Liepert: Mr. Speaker,
the only mixed messages that consistently
come into this House are from that group over there, who one
day want to spend and the next day want to save. They have to
determine whether they’re savers or spenders. You can’t suck and
blow at the same time.