Debates of March 10th, 1998

Judy Wasylycia-Leis Winnipeg North Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, I do not know why they are clapping across the way because the finance minister obviously does not agree. There was not one penny in his budget for home care.

My question for the Minister of Health is why did he make those earnest statements yesterday when he does not have the support of his own government?

Allan Rock Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, this is so typical of the New Democratic Party. According to that party, we should spend first and find out why afterward.

What we prefer to do is identify priorities, make a plan, develop a partnership with the provinces and then invest wisely to get the job done. That is exactly what we are going to do. Yesterday we set out the priorities and now we are going to create the plan and develop the partnerships. We will then solve the problem.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis Winnipeg North Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health will know that the issue of a national home care plan has been studied for many, many months, including an in depth analysis by the National Forum on Health Care. Canadians do not want more studies. They want cash on the table.

If home care is such an urgent priority, why is the Minister of Health promising only to study this idea for another 12 to 18 months? If it is such an integral part of medicare, why is there no money for home care now?

Allan Rock Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, had the hon. member attended the conference she would have seen, as I did, that 400 knowledgeable people from across the country who know the subject agreed that the important thing to do is to plan wisely and invest carefully if we are going to solve the problem.

The hon. member's leader attended yesterday only long enough to go to the microphone and play politics instead of trying to be part of the solution.

Jean Charest Sherbrooke, QC

Mr. Speaker, when we asked the government about health care spending last week, the Prime Minister blamed Ontario and the province of Quebec. I understand that yesterday the Prime Minister blamed Manitoba.

The Prime Minister said there would be further cuts in health care funding in Manitoba, but when we checked we found that not only have there been tax cuts in Manitoba, the government of Gary Filmon included $100 million more for health care.

Could the Prime Minister and the government tell us why health care seems to be a priority only for the premiers and not this Liberal government?

Allan Rock Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will have seen in the budget two weeks ago the importance of health care. The first thing this government did when fiscal circumstances improved was to cancel the intended reduction in transfers to the provinces. This resulted in $1.5 billion more in transfer payments this year. We have also given $60 million for a new blood system and investment in medical research.

It is clear that the priority for us is health which is reflected in the budget this year as it will be in the future.

Jean Charest Sherbrooke, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health would do well to listen to the Canadian Medical Association, which said the health care system was in crisis. Seven out of ten provinces will see a drop in the funding they receive from this Liberal government.

I want to know if the minister, along with the Prime Minister, is prepared to repeat the remarks he made in the House of Commons to the premiers, who are now calling for a federal-provincial conference on the health care crisis. Will they accept the invitation from the premiers to sit down with them to discuss the future of health care?

Allan Rock Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, as I have just said, we increased transfer payments to the provinces in this year's budget.

Allan Rock Etobicoke Centre, ON

It is also very important to point out, as I did yesterday, that the crises are, in most cases, the result of home care needs. Yesterday, in Halifax, during a pan-Canadian conference, we put forward a co-ordinated agreement to tackle home care and improve the health system.