Dear editor,
The community of Southwest Saskatchewan has been given the opportunity by the Ministry of Health to achieve the highest standards of healthcare possible in rural Saskatchewan now and into the future. The success of this initiative will now depend on the co-operation and transparency of the Southwest community, the Cypress Health Region and the Ministry of Health.
We ask that everyone in the Southwest community continue the longstanding tradition of supporting those who are appointed to serve on various committees as the project moves forward.
The negotiated agreement that was outlined in the statement released February 12th was the result of many meetings and “discussions”, as well as the unprecedented lobbying efforts of the entire Southwest community.
We wish to express our congratulations to all residents of the Southwest community for acting as one cohesive unit to improve healthcare delivery. This unselfish attitude will assure the success of the mission to improve healthcare for our families, friends and neighbours into the future.
We wish to acknowledge the following key personnel for the parts they played during the negotiation process that eventually led to the mutually acceptable agreement that allows us to move forward:
All RM, village and town mayors, reeves and councilors as well as representatives of Southwest Hutterite colonies, Premier Brad Wall, Dan Florizone, deputy minister of health, Dr. Louise Greenberg, associate deputy minister of health, Don McMorris, minister of health, Wayne Elhard, MLA, Tyler Bragg and Brenda Schwan, Cypress Health Region.
The co-operation and support we have received from everyone in the community has been the driving force behind our dedication to the project.

Wilf Parsons, Arden Erman, Tom Flanagan, Duane Migowsky
Southwest Saskatchewan Healthcare Project Steering Committee