March 22, 1999
(Health and Community Services)

$5 million for Year 2000

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services, announced today that government will allocate $5 million to address the Year 2000 problem in the provincial health and community services system.

Because of the Year 2000 problem, computers and computer-controlled equipment may malfunction. This equipment may interpret the year 2000 as being the year 1900. Unless corrected, the affected equipment may produce incorrect results, or function abnormally, causing disruption to services or inconvenience. So far, Year 2000 problems have been found in less than two per cent of the province's medical equipment.

"The Year 2000 problem is a serious matter that the health and community services system has been working to resolve for some time," said the minister. "Many problems have already been corrected." In some cases, defective equipment has been replaced or upgraded through existing funds. In other instances, problems have been solved through free upgrades from manufacturers where these upgrades are available. "The $5 million in new funding will allow boards to upgrade or replace equipment where required to solve the remaining Year 2000 problems," the minister added.

To help coordinate efforts throughout the province, a provincial Year 2000 committee has been working since June 1998. This committee, lead by a full-time coordinator, ensures that boards, the Department of Health and Community Services and the Newfoundland and Labrador Health and Community Services Association work together to share information about Year 2000 problems and solutions. Also, the committee is linked to Year 2000 committees in other provinces as well as Health Canada, and receives information about problems and solutions from these jurisdictions.

With the help of the committee, contingency plans are being developed to help boards prepare for other potential Year 2000 problems, such as disruption in electricity, telephone or water services.

Media contact: Glenn Bruce, Communications, (709) 729-1377.

1999 03 22