Debates of June 12th, 2001

Paul Szabo Mississauga South, ON

Madam Speaker, I believe that report of the Department of Health on plans and priorities clearly demonstrates that Health Canada is focusing its efforts and its resources on the health priorities that make sense for the people of Canada. However, to understand these estimates, we must first understand the role the Government of Canada plays in our health care system.

We know that the delivery of health care services is almost completely under the jurisdiction of the provinces. They decide how services are to be organized. They negotiate with physicians and nurses and they set overall provincial funding levels.

The health of Canadians involves far more than just the delivery of health care services. The Government of Canada has a set of distinct roles that reflect its wide perspective. The funding provided in these estimates support the achievement of those roles.

One aspect of the basic operations of Health Canada is our health care policy. This involves many elements of co-operation with the provinces, the territories and the new territories in order to ensure that all Canadians have a health care system that works for them.

Much of that collaboration will be aided by the implementation of the first ministers agreement on health which was signed by the first ministers last September. By putting $18.9 billion more into funding over the next five years, we will go a long way toward revitalizing our health care system for the 21st century.

The Government of Canada did far more than just agree to increase health and social transfers. It set up three targeted funds: $1 billion for medical equipment, $800 million for innovation and reform, and $500 million to strengthen information technologies so that we can move ahead in areas such as tele-health programs that will allow people in remote areas to contact medical experts in large cities.

One priority that will be particularly interesting for Canadians, and these estimates will help support it, is the work that will take place with the provinces, territories and outside experts to define common indicators. It will mean that Canadians will be able to look to a consistent set of indicators that cover health status, health outcomes, and the quality of service across Canada.

I also want to note the funding for the new tobacco control strategy of $480 million over five years.

I also want to mention the investment in improving the health of our first nations and Inuit. This is a basic constitutional responsibility of the Government of Canada and it involves many elements.

I have many other points to make, but let me conclude. Canadians expect the Government of Canada to take a lead role on health issues and to take those responsibilities very seriously. That is precisely what the Government of Canada does.

Lucienne Robillard President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure

moved:

Motion No. 2

That Vote 5, in the amount of $954,627,000, under HEALTH—Department—Grants and contributions, in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2002 (less the amount voted in Interim Supply), be concurred in.

Lucienne Robillard President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure

moved:

Motion No. 3

That Vote 10, in the amount of $19,748,000, under HEALTH—Canadian Institutes of Health Research—Operating expenditures, in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2002 (less the amount voted in Interim Supply), be concurred in.

Lucienne Robillard President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure

moved:

Motion No. 4

That Vote 15, in the amount of $408,885,000, under HEALTH—Canadian Institutes of Health Research—Grants, in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2002 (less the amount voted in Interim Supply), be concurred in.