44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 29, 2024 02:00PM
- May/29/24 8:30:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the federal government covered more than 80% of the cost of the pandemic, an absolutely enormous cost. It was essential. This created an imbalance in the fiscal situations at the provincial and federal levels. Now, the provinces are in a good position to invest money in their systems. That is the case in Quebec. There is a decent health care plan in Quebec, which is a leader in many areas of health.
Given that we have invested nearly $200 billion, I would say the money is there, but it is not just a question of money. It is a question of transformation, of changing the way health care services are made available. It is also very important to prevent illness. That is the motivation behind our dental care plan. Access to drugs is absolutely essential as well.
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- May/29/24 8:31:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we cannot accept that kind of answer. The pandemic was a unique situation, something that happens once a century. The government's action cannot be based on the pandemic.
A recurring theme, however, is the federal government's failure to take responsibility for the problems in the health care system. At the end of his career, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien openly admitted that he was able to reduce health transfers without paying a political price. That happens all the time. The provincial governments are forced to make budget cuts and adopt austerity measures to manage their health care system, while the federal government can balance its budget on the backs of the provinces. That is what happened repeatedly under Paul Martin's Liberal government, which made $2.5 billion in cuts in 1996 and 1997 and dismantled the entire health care system.
When my colleague talks about exceptional measures, like those that were implemented during COVID-19, I have a hard time believing him. What we need is for the federal government, which is rather absent these days, to recommit to the health care system.
I have a very simple question for my colleague. Does he agree that health falls under Quebec's exclusive jurisdiction?
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- May/29/24 8:32:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, first the member opposite says that health is an exclusive jurisdiction of Quebec, then the member says that the government needs to do more in the health field. In my opinion, the member's position is a little strange.
The funds provided to each province are subject to a minimum annual increase of 5%. These funds are not reduced; they automatically increase by at least 5%. Additional amounts are also paid under agreements specifically designed to improve the situation.
The problem with our health care system is not money. It is really about transformation. In times of transformation, it is vitally important that we avoid picking fights. Picking fights is easy. The right thing to do is to work toward achieving results in a spirit of co-operation.
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- May/29/24 8:34:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I see that my colleague is unfortunately trying to avoid the question, since he is not answering, but I will answer for him. Health is the exclusive jurisdiction of Quebec.
He said earlier that it was not just about money. If it is not just about money, what is the federal government's purpose? All citizens of every province pay taxes to the federal government. A portion of these taxes is returned to the provinces through health transfers or transfers for social programs.
The problem is that the transfers are insufficient. They do not match the cost of the services we deliver. Not only that, but the federal government, which is not responsible for health, is interfering in the area of health without having jurisdiction over it. What I do know is that, with regard to health, the federal government has jurisdiction over indigenous people's health, military hospitals, Health Canada drug approvals and quarantines.
I would like my colleague to tell me how many national health policies or strategies there are. Do these policies or strategies involve anything other than prevention and awareness?
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- May/29/24 8:35:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the federal government has a major role to play with the province of Quebec when it comes to health care. It is set out in our Constitution. It is important.
For example, there are common indicators in every agreement with each province and territory. Now Quebeckers will be able to track the province's progress by consulting the data. Each year, there will be a report that tracks progress using common indicators. It is absolutely essential to be able to track progress using data. Personally, I feel that is very important.
It is also important to have the ability to share information and data with each government. When I speak with Quebeckers, and with all Canadians across the country, I hear that they want results and co-operation. They do not want bickering or debates about jurisdiction.
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- May/29/24 8:36:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would simply like to remind the minister that a Leger poll showed that more than 80% of Quebeckers feel it is important for the federal government to respect jurisdictional boundaries. Accusing others of picking fights is easy to do in politics. Every time someone raises an objection, it is enough to just say they are picking a fight.
I have a question for the minister. Can he tell me how many hospitals the federal government runs and how many surgeries it does in those hospitals? I would like to know.
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- May/29/24 8:37:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is not the federal government's responsibility to run hospitals, but it is the federal government's responsibility to work with the Government of Quebec. It is odd. The member says that the federal government must give money and do more, but also that it must get out of health care. Those two things contradict each other. This is an obligation that we have across the country, not just with the Government of Quebec, but with every province and every administration—
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- May/29/24 8:37:46 p.m.
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The hon. member for Jonquière.
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- May/29/24 8:37:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is a very interesting answer. The minister just said that the federal government does not run any hospitals. He just said that the federal government has no expertise in the procedures performed at hospitals. In his previous answer to me, however, he said that we need data on the procedures being done in hospitals. He wants data on something that is not within his purview. The only thing the minister should do is transfer the funds requested by the provinces.
I would like to remind him that, during the last negotiation, all of the provinces asked that health transfers increase from roughly 23% for all provinces to 35%, which did not happen. The fiscal imbalance and the problems caused by health care underfunding, including fewer nurses and frontline workers, will persist because the federal government is determined to do what it does best, which is to meddle in a jurisdiction that is none of its business and create programs that make for good PR, yet deliver no help to the people of Quebec or the provinces.
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- May/29/24 8:39:14 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we need nurses, doctors, dentists and all sorts of initiatives in health care. The member starts out by saying that, but then he asks that the government not take action and that it jump ship. It makes no sense.
The government also has a responsibility under the Canada Health Act. We are responsible for ensuring that people across the country, including Quebeckers, can access the health care they need. The act is clear on this. It is our responsibility. We must not dictate priorities to the provinces, but we must work in a spirit of co-operation. That co-operation certainly exists with Quebec's minister of health. Mr Dubé is very responsible.
I absolutely respect Quebec's areas of jurisdiction, but we have a shared responsibility and I respect that too.
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- May/29/24 8:40:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, it is really quite astonishing. The minister just said that he respects provincial jurisdictions. However, when it comes to pharmacare and dental care, the Quebec government has repeatedly said that these are inexcusable intrusions into Quebec's jurisdictions. Not only are these inexcusable and unenforceable intrusions into our areas of jurisdiction, but the government is going to create a need, only to turn around and underfund it in order to get out of this situation and balance its budget, as it constantly does when it comes to health transfers.
I get the impression that the minister might not grasp all the nuances involved in health care, including the fact that it is a provincial responsibility. The federal government's only job is to transfer the money without getting involved.
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- May/29/24 8:41:11 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, one thing is absolutely unacceptable and that is the fact that, for many years, people across Quebec have not had access to dental care. If the Government of Quebec wants to manage that program, I have no problem with that. That is doable, but it is absolutely essential that everyone in Quebec be able to access dental care.
Why is the member opposite not working with me toward that goal? Minister Dubé had no problem with that. Why does the member have a problem with it?
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- May/29/24 8:42:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I will not be sharing my time. I will mainly be directing my questions at the Minister of Health. My colleague from Courtenay—Alberni will ask the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions some questions later.
The minister just gave all Canadians some good news, I think. Some 120,000 seniors have already received dental care. How many of them are Quebeckers?
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- May/29/24 8:42:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there is good news.
Quebec has the highest take-up rate in the country. That is absolutely amazing. That being said, the regional statistics are not available yet, but they will be soon.
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- May/29/24 8:43:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would also like to know the figures for British Columbia.
How many seniors have already received their membership cards and been approved for the program? Once again, how many of those people are in Quebec and how many are in British Columbia?
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- May/29/24 8:43:25 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the take-up rate among dentists in British Columbia is quite high as well. I will check the figures for each region. I do not have them right now, but I will be able to provide that information soon.
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- May/29/24 8:43:51 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Health have, on the ministry website, a count-up clock so that all Canadians can see the number of people who are taking advantage of this new program?
Of course, the NDP, having worked hard to get this to fruition, are very proud of the pickup that we have seen in the first few weeks.
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- May/29/24 8:44:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in the first order, I want to thank the member and his caucus for their extraordinary work on this. I think it is exactly what Canadians expect us to do: to work together and to get results.
I think that is an excellent idea. It is something that we are investigating and something I know the member has raised with me before. I think it is important that Canadians be able to see those details in hard numbers.
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- May/29/24 8:44:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in some regions of the country, there have not been a sufficient number of dentists who have signed up for the program.
What steps are being taken to ensure, in rural and northern areas, that there are dentists available in the program?
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- May/29/24 8:44:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we are doing is dispelling a lot of misinformation. Unfortunately, we have seen, in particular areas, Conservative misinformation and other misinformation. They have tried to say that there is a lot of administrative burden.
The good news is, when we get a few providers in a region, we see an explosion, because Canadians see that there was misinformation and that the program is easy to use.
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