Health Committee on March 21st, 2024

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Okay.

In February 2021, the scientific advisory committee indicated that consideration should be given to a fund to compensate women for damages. Will you implement that recommendation?

It's your own advisory committee.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I don't have an answer to that question right now. I will continue to study this issue. Thank you for your comment.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Okay.

Also in February 2021, the scientific advisory committee recommended that there be basic research and funding for research on breast implants to gather more evidence. Where are you at with that? Have you allocated money for research? That research would have contributed to creating the national registry.

Is any money being allocated to that at this time?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Generally speaking, we're partners in research.

Ms. MacLeod can speak specifically to our commitment in this area.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

In November 2023, Ms. Greaves told us there wasn't yet any funding for research on breast implants.

Is there funding now?

[Catherine MacLeod, Acting President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research]

Mr. Chair, I thank the member for his question.

I'm going to do another analysis of our research program funding to see whether we've received grants for that. I will be happy to send the information to the committee.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Okay, so you don't have the answer to that today. I may have a chance to ask again at some point.

Minister, earlier you mentioned a fundamental principle several times, namely the right to autonomy, to freedom of choice with respect to one's body. We talked about that last time, and you seemed to be considering advance requests for people with degenerative cognitive diseases. Has the conversation about that progressed? Will you introduce a bill to ensure that these people have freedom of choice to make advance requests?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I have had discussions with Quebec's Minister of Health, as well as with many people across the country, about advance requests.

As I've already explained, this is an issue. I appreciate that you have a bit of a different perspective on this. I think it's a really complex dynamic. I want us to be able to work with my Quebec counterpart, as well as my other provincial and territorial counterparts, to find a solution. We need to find a solution for the specific aspect you raised, but we also need to ensure that, when a person is in a state— That's a difficult question to answer, because people in that situation may have different opinions. Their experience is different from that of people who expect a particular situation to occur.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Minister, I don't see any change in your thinking, in your perspective. You're telling me the same things as last time.

Have you read Quebec's advance request legislation, yes or no? What do you think is complicated about that legislation?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I had—

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Quebec's act could be a model for the federal act.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I understand your point of view, but, in my opinion, it is important not to move forward with a single province. It is essential to work with every—

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

That's not what I'm talking about.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I understand. However, I had a chance to—

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Have you read Quebec's advance request legislation?

What do you think of Quebec's legislation? Do you think it's complicated? You could draft a bill based on that and introduce it before the next election.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I think this issue brings up what tend to be very complex conversations and situations.

I have looked at Quebec's bill. I myself will keep having conversations with each province and territory so that we can find a solution together.

I fully realize this is a very sensitive issue that's deeply emotional for people who have a disease that will make their lives difficult.

However, for the time being, the conversations on this issue will continue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Thériault.

Next, we'll go to Mr. Davies, please, for six minutes.

You're muted, Mr. Davies. We can't hear you. Could you try unplugging and plugging in again?

Otherwise, we have a request from Mr. Ellis to take over your time. We really hope it works.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Can you hear me now?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

We sure can, and we're very happy.

Go ahead, Mr. Davies.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

We avoided a fate worse than death.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister and officials, for being with us.

Dr. Lucas, I want to start by adding New Democrats' appreciation for your leadership. At a time when many people in Canada are saying everything is broken, you and your department helped build and create a solution by presiding over the biggest expansion of public health care in half a century by bringing dental care to nine million Canadians, public drugs and devices to diabetics, and contraception to people who need it. I want to thank you, on behalf of our party, for the fine work that you and your department did on that.

Minister, perhaps I can start with you. Can you confirm approximately how many people have signed up for the Canadian dental care plan to date?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Yes. It's approximately a little over 1.5 million—all seniors.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you.

On pharmacare, can you confirm approximately how much an average person, let's say, living with diabetes will save as a result of being able to access free diabetes medication and the devices they may need?

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

It depends a little bit upon the province or territory they're in and what the existing coverage is, so it's a bit hard to answer. However, I think it's fair to say that it will be very substantial. For the folks I'm talking to and I'm sure members of committee have had the opportunity to speak to, these costs can be extremely prohibitive. They can be a major factor in their not being able to afford the essentials of life. Oftentimes, they are making decisions to forgo medication or, as I mentioned, reuse syringes or not properly monitor their condition, which leads to very bad health outcomes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you, Minister.

Just by way of anecdote, I talked to someone recently who estimated that they've spent, to date, over $100,000 out of pocket having to pay for syringes, needles, test strips and the medication they need.

Minister, turning to school nutrition, in the last election both the NDP and Liberal parties pledged $1 billion to create a national school food program, but according to recent media reports, the federal government has decided to drop its 2024 deadline to introduce this urgently needed initiative.

Given that food insecurity has risen sharply across the country and food bank use is at record levels, and given that, as I'm sure you're aware, nutrition plays a crucial role in children's health, can you confirm whether your government plans to follow through on its promise to create a national school nutrition program, and if so, when?