House of Commons Hansard #115 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was federal.

Topics

SupplyGovernment Orders

5:20 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, I was stunned to hear the speech made by the member opposite.

It is easier to see the mote in one's neighbour's eye than the beam in one's own. I think the member said nothing but lies. I am sorry to have to use that word.

After his government has cut transfers to the provinces by $33 billion since 1993, the member is trying to teach these same provinces a lesson. Enough is enough.

I think the member should look at what his government is doing in the area of health. It took money and put it in its own pocket when it is the provinces, and not the federal government, that are responsible for delivering services to the public. It padded its purse at the expense of the sick and at the expense of the provinces.

I would like the member to say he is sorry and admit that what he just said is nonsense.

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5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Steve Mahoney Liberal Mississauga West, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am a little surprised at you. She said that I lied. At least the English translation said that. I do not know what she said in French.

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5:20 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

If the hon. member for Jonquière alleged that the member for Mississauga West had lied—and I have forgotten the French term because I try not to remember it—I am sure it would be withdrawn.

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5:20 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, I meant to say he misrepresented the truth. That is what I meant. He misrepresented the truth.

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5:20 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

I certainly accept that. I know that the hon. member would never knowingly descend to that level.

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5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Steve Mahoney Liberal Mississauga West, ON

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if there was something lost in the translation, but I know what I heard.

I am not at all surprised. If I make a speech in this place and I do not get the Bloc members upset, then I really think I have not done my job. We all understand what their agenda is. We understand that they want to rip the country apart and they will use the health care system to do it or the day care system or any kind of system.

The most disgusting comments I have ever heard a politician make about another politician were made by Premier Bouchard in referring to the Prime Minister of this country. It was unbelievable. He should apologize and this party should demand that he apologize and not use those kinds of remarks when referring to the Prime Minister. I do not care about the partisanship. It was totally cheap, personal and uncalled for.

SupplyGovernment Orders

5:20 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

It has been brought to my attention by others that in fact the word “lie” was used and I wonder if the member for Jonquière would withdraw the remark because I know it is not in keeping with her character.

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5:20 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, I apologized. I explained that I meant to say he misrepresented the truth. I apologized. I withdraw the word “lies”, but the member misrepresented the truth. That is what I meant to say.

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5:20 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

There is absolutely no problem. I just wanted to make sure it was on the record so that it would be finished.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

5:20 p.m.

Scarborough—Rouge River Ontario

Liberal

Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, as we move toward our adjournment, which is anticipated later this evening, I have two motions on which there has been consultation and for which I think you would find unanimous consent to adopt. I move:

Provided that on any day prior to June 30, 2000, if the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations has a report ready for presentation in the House, the said report may be deposited with the Clerk of the House and shall thereupon be deemed tabled in the House.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

5:25 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

The House has heard the motion as presented by the parliamentary secretary to the government House leader. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

5:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would like to move a second motion on which there has also been consultation. I move that the Sub-committee on Organized Crime of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights be authorized to travel to Toronto and Newmarket, Ontario and to a Canadian port and that the necessary staff accompany the sub-committee.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

5:25 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

The House has heard the motion as presented by the parliamentary secretary to the government House leader. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

5:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

5:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

The House resumed consideration of the motion, and of the amendment.

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5:25 p.m.

Liberal

David Pratt Liberal Nepean—Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to engage in this debate on the health care system and its future. I fear that with less than four minutes left in the time allotted I will not have the opportunity to address a lot of the issues that I would like to address, but I will try to address as many as possible.

On June 9 provincial and territorial governments issued an interim report on understanding Canada's health care costs. Let me first say that the Government of Canada very much welcomed such efforts. Health policy decision making in Canada needs to be informed by better evidence, a better understanding of the issues and a better understanding of the prospects we face. This report is a good step along the road to that better understanding. I know that federal and provincial governments and their officials will continue to work toward enriching our understanding of these issues.

I would like to start with what the report called the base cost drivers. The report takes a very broad cut at estimating what those drivers could be. It argues that health care costs in Canada will be pushed up by four key drivers: inflation, population growth, population aging and a catch-all category.

The first is general inflation. As the overall cost of living rises, so will the amount of money that needs to be spent on health care. The report pegs this pressure at about 2% a year, which is consistent with the policies of this government to keep inflation between 1% and 3% so as to keep interest rates low and the economy strong.

The second is population growth. As the number of Canadians grows so will the need for health care spending.

The third is population aging. It is well known that older Canadians have more health care needs than younger Canadians by a wide margin. They are more likely to have chronic health problems, those that persist and cannot simply be fixed by some procedure like setting a broken limb, and are more likely to need some ongoing form of care as health problems cost them some of their independence. The aging of Canada's population will thus inevitably add to health care cost pressures.

The report estimates that between now and 2026 aging will add around 1% a year to health costs, somewhat lower for the next few years, and more further out as the baby boomer generation moves into their sixties and seventies and beyond. One of the reasons there will be more older Canadians in the future is not only because we are living longer, but because we are healthier and indeed having more years of life in good health.

The last base cost driver the report mentions is a catch-all category. The report assumes that we will spend more on health care year in and year out between now and 2026 to cover off increases in the available health care technology and for a variety of other pressures.

Historically, health care costs in Canada have risen faster than just population growth, the effect of aging and general inflation. These four factors together, general inflation, population growth, aging and this other component, gave a base estimate that health care costs in Canada will rise about 5% a year from now until 2026.

SupplyGovernment Orders

5:30 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

On that bad news, it being 5:30 p.m., it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of this item.

The question is on the amendment. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the amendment?

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5:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

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5:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

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5:30 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

All those in favour of the amendment will please say yea.

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5:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

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5:30 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

All those opposed will please say nay.

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5:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.