Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen says KPMG has won a contract to review health care spending. Goertzen adds this external review is critical because spending on health care is rising so fast that it will soon consume all the tax dollars the provincial government takes in.

"Our analysis and the analysis of other provinces as well shows that if we continue spending on the health care field the way we are now, into the future, by 2030 there will be two departments left in government; Finance and Health, the department that brings the money in and the department that spends the money. All of the other departments will have been consumed by that. That obviously is not where we want to be. I don't think anybody wants us to be in that position in 15 years from now."

Goertzen notes the biggest drivers of health care spending increases are the need for new services because of an aging population, rising costs for drugs and equipment and labour costs. He says health care inflation is running at around 5.3% per year. Goertzen outlines the assignment he has given to KPMG.

"We have asked the consultants to come back to us early next year with six very specific area they believe we can immediately find savings and efficiencies or innovations within and then, a few months after that, come back with another six longer term things that we can do."