Evidence of meeting #56 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Well, again, as we've done with all governments, we share them with other departments, with the ministers' offices, etc., for their information. At the end of the day, I have to be accountable for what we put up on the web.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
My question is with relation to healing programming for aboriginal communities. Last year, the request to extend the funding for critical programming to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation was denied. We were told repeatedly that Health Canada was going to take on the role of providing necessary healing programming for residential school survivors in communities that are struggling with the trauma of residential schools. Those programs were taken away from the region that I represent in northern Manitoba, and also, I know, from regions across Canada.
Here is my question. Despite those commitments, I don't see any reference in the estimates, and certainly not in the budget, to an understanding of what exactly Health Canada has done, or of course is planning to do, most importantly, to ensure that this programming is available, not in terms of NNADAP work, not in terms of addictions work, but with a focus on healing, and a focus on community healing in the decentralized model that was so successful under the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Madam Chair, as I've stated before, the portion to provide healing support to survivors of residential schools with regard to Health Canada remains: Budget 2010 announced $65.9 million to continue to provide the supports to the victims of residential schools. I've stated that in the House. Those continue to be rolled out to individuals.
Individuals who went to residential schools have a choice of whether they want to participate in group counselling in their language or in a one-on-one with a professional. It's up to the individual. Those supports continue to be rolled out across Canada. This, in my mind, is a much needed area, and it was never cut.
Thank you.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
If I could, I will just ask a quick follow-up. I appreciate that these services might be available, but they are not available north of 53 in Manitoba, so my question is, where exactly are these programs available? And certainly at the community level, not in flying people out to be counselled in Winnipeg.... Also, exactly what is that vision for the next year to provide that necessary community-based counselling?
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
As I've stated before, there are two different programs that we're talking about. The aboriginal healing part, to provide assistance to victims of residential schools, remains. That never was gone, to provide the assistance.... Other programs done through the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, which is separate from this, provided a number of community-based initiatives on land skills, language, sewing, and whatnot. A lot of programs were covered under that initiative.
The initiative that I'm talking about is providing direct support to victims of residential schools, the healing piece of it, and $65.9 million remains in the budget, Budget 2010. That's still available to those individuals, the victims of residential schools.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you.
Do you have other questions? You have about a minute and a half left.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
I do. Thanks, Madam Chair.
I'm looking for a yes or no answer from the minister. I know that the minister and the federal, territorial, and provincial health ministers met in the fall; I think earlier you may have said it was in September. Pharmacare wasn't on the agenda, was it?
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
Thank you, Madam Chair.
The conversation related to pharmacare has been going on since 2005.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
The ministers know, the PTs know, that there's a mandatory requirement for a review. PTs are well aware that I have asked the Senate committee to do the review.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Nunavut, NU
The 2014 mandatory review is a requirement before any discussions can take place, as per the legislation. That's now before the Senate committee, and we will be voting today whether you want to participate in that or not.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you.
Now we'll go to our second round. We'll go to our members on the Conservative side. There you go. You can't say I'm not being fair.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
I could never forget about you, especially with your new glasses. I didn't recognize you since I got back.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you.
We're going to have Dr. Carrie and Ms. Davidson share their time.
We'll begin with Dr. Carrie.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to thank you, Minister, and congratulate you, coming off the budget. I think we have a good story for health care in Canada. I have already gotten feedback on the family caregiver tax credit of $2,000 to help Canadians who will be having to stay at home to look after a family member who may be ill.
We had the opportunity to travel up north as a committee, and we got to see the challenges that these remote communities have in recruiting and retaining physicians. Sometimes when there are rumours that there could be an election out there, the jurisdictions between the provinces and territories sometimes get blurred. One of the things that was in the budget was quite exciting for me. I know your commitment to getting more health care professionals up north has been rock solid. How will the Government of Canada's investment in family medicine residencies support the provincial and territorial efforts to recruit and retain physicians in underserved communities? Would you be able to follow through with that?