Saskatchewan pushes back ER wait target

The Saskatchewan government is resuscitating a promise to eliminate emergency room waits.

Health Minister Dustin Duncan says the province is planning a 60 per cent reduction by 2019, although the ultimate goal continues to be eliminating ER waits.

Duncan says the issue is complex and the effort will involve co-ordination across the health system.

The government put $4.7 million into wait time initiatives in the March budget, and a team of patients, physicians and health regions is looking at ways to shorten emergency room wait times.

Duncan acknowledged in October that the government will not meet its promise of eliminating emergency room wait times by 2017.

Premier Brad Wall had made that pledge in 2012.